Out of the XI on the park, Team India fielded six left-handers in the first Test vs South Africa in Kolkata. And the result was a shocker, as Simon Harmer ripped through the Indian batting, and helped his team win by 30 runs, in a target of 124. That has led many to question India’s tactics; meanwhile, skipper Shubman Gill also suffered a neck injury, and might not be available for the Guwahati Test.
Rutuaj Gaikwad should replace Shubman Gill?
So, who fills in at no. 4 for him is the question. Even though there are capable batters in Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan, but both of them are lefties. Aakash Chopra, a former India opener went on to suggest, that instead of these two, Indian management should perhaps look at Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been in sublime form, and is doing well in the Ranji Trophy.
“Should Ruturaj Gaikwad be selected in the Test team? You might be wondering how he can be selected as the team is already selected, and no one has gone out. There is still no clarity on Shubman Gill’s participation. He has been discharged from the hospital, but there is still a question mark over his participation,” he said on his Youtube channel.
“Just in case he doesn’t become available, you will have to play someone. You have Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal sitting outside – two more left-handers. You have six left-handers in the XI at the moment. Do you want to go with seven left-handers? You want to change that, maybe,” he added.
Can’t have seven left-handers in XI
Chopra highlighted his excellent form, and also the fact that he bats in the middle-order. The technique seems to be good for Test cricket and can provide the team with the stability, that they so badly crave for.
“He is in excellent form. He is scoring runs for India A in white-ball cricket. Don’t know why he is not played in the days’ format when the India A team plays, but wherever he is playing, whether it’s the Ranji Trophy or the Duleep Trophy, he has been scoring the runs,” he said.
“He even bats in the middle order. He looks technically compact. It seems like he has been made to play Tests, and this is the same ground where he struck a T20I century vs Australia. So I am building a case for him that if there is any chance of Shubman Gill not playing, paradrop and bring him in,” Chopra observed.
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