After India lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the first Test match in Bengaluru, Rohit Sharma declared that the team would not panic in the future. Before the second Test began on Thursday, October 24, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, the Indian skipper did, however, declare three changes at the toss. Following this intriguing occurrence, analysts began to speculate about whether the hosts were under pressure before the crucial second Test.
After winning the toss, Tom Latham, the captain of New Zealand, decided to bat first without hesitation. Mitchell Santner has been added to the playing XI in lieu of Matt Henry, who had a glute niggle prior to the match, he also announced. Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar took the place of KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav in the Indian team, but there were no forced changes made.
Prior to this match, Washington was added to the lineup, and Shubman missed the first Test because of stiff neck. This is the latter’s first time back in the Test arena since March 2021. Former India captain Anil Kumble was taken aback when he was selected in the starting XI ahead of the highly effective Axar Patel, who had been in the team from the start.
“Bowed out for 46 while under pressure. You anticipated events, but none materialised. Here, Kuldeep would have like to have the ball in his possession. Anil Kumble informed the broadcasters on Thursday, October 24, “That will disappoint him.”
“KL Rahul has bounced up and down the order, which surprised me because I assumed he was at number six. Sarfaraz does get the chance, on form. In the end, it doesn’t matter as long as the three absent players receive clear messages. Other than that, I find it shocking that India had to implement three modifications. Axar Patel, who most likely won the Test series in India with both his bat and ball, was one of you. That Washington entered and immediately made it into the playing XI surprised me a little,” the veteran leg-spinner continued.
I would have chosen Sunil Gavaskar as Kuldeep Yadav.
Washington was added before Kuldeep because, according to the great Sunil Gavaskar, India was concerned about their batting depth. But according to the former India opener, he would have kept Kuldeep in the starting lineup.
Except in cases when injuries are a worry, I don’t see many teams making three changes. In fact, the presence of Washington Sundar indicates that they are concerned about their batting. His batting down the order is more important to them than his bowling because it provides a buffer.
Also Read: IND vs NZ 2024: Why are KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj not playing 2nd Test?
While there is a lot of discussion on the left-handers in the New Zealand batting lineup, Gavaskar stated, “I would have chosen Kuldeep Yadav because he can also turn it away from a left-hander.”
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