IND vs AUS: Key selection headaches for India ahead of the 1st Test
India are gearing up for the all-important home Test series against Australia. The result of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will also affect the World Test Championship standings. It is imperative for Rohit Sharma’s men to beat Pat Cummins on co. India have a formidable Test record in home conditions and they will be hoping to continue their series-winning streak.
Ahead of the first Test, Rohit Sharma and the team management will have to make a few key decisions. Here are some of the selection calls that will be tricky for them.
Batting positions of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill
In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill opened the innings for India in Bangladesh Tests. With the Indian captain back in the fold, one of Rahul and Gill will have to bat in the middle order.
KL Rahul was slotted to bat in the middle order ahead of the 2021 Test series against England. Due to injuries to multiple players, he had to open the innings for India. Rahul then sealed the top spot with impressive knocks in difficult situations. However, his form has waned off late. In the last 4 Tests, he has scored 137 runs at an average of 17.
Shubman Gill, on the other hand, is minting runs at will as an opener. He recently scored an ODI double century and backed it up with a hundred in T20I cricket. The 23-year old is taking huge strides in international with his exceptional batting form. While his record as a Test opener is not stellar, his recent run in white-ball cricket should boost his confidence. It is very likely that Team India will shift KL Rahul into the middle order with Shubman Gill as an opener.
Ishan Kishan or KS Bharat?
Rishabh Pant’s unavailability is a huge blow for the Indian team, one for which the team has no ready replacement. The two options that are currently present in the Indian squad are Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat. Kishan’s case seems more compelling since the left-handed batter bats in a similar mould to the injured maverick. But Kishan has lost his touch with the bat. In the last 9 innings in white-ball cricket, he has collected only 94 runs with his highest score being 37. Also, he is not the preferred wicketkeeper of his domestic side.
In terms of a wicket-keeping option, KS Bharat is miles ahead of the Jharkhand gloveman. Bharat is not only a regular wicketkeeper for Andhra in first-class cricket but has also been a part of the Indian squad as a reserve wicketkeeper. On Indian soil, having a skilled keeper behind the stumps is crucial in the pursuit of taking 20 wickets. While KS Bharat takes away India’s left-hander option, he provides solid wicket-keeping and stoic batting skills.
