Cricket’s a reactionary game. A bowler delivers a ball, and the batter responds. The same goes for team selection as well. Even a wrong pick is justified if the result is in your favour. The Indian team got ample criticism for going with three all-rounders and just three front-line bowlers at Edgbaston and Lord’s. After the matches had finished, hardly anyone criticised the decision.
But India lost the third Test. Had they won, changes wouldn’t have been made. The old cricket clique of don’t change a winning combination. Now, Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir might be forced to think about changing the composition.
Despite Karun Nair’s failures, he might just be given another chance. But there could be a bowling change. We saw Akash Deep struggle physically at Lord’s. The physio was tending to his back, and he even walked back to the change room after having a left hip issue. Will he be 100%? It turns out, Akash’s fitness may not matter at all.
Kuldeep Yadav gets selection shout
Former England opener and captain Michael Atherton thinks the Old Trafford pitch for the India vs England 4th Test might be flat and aid wrist spin. He thinks playing three spinners by adding Kuldeep Yadav and two pacers will be good enough. Of course, the weather may change the nature of the surface, but that’s how it’s expected to play.
“In the middle, where the televised pitches are, I said just flat, flat, flat. You know wrist spin goes well at Old Trafford in those circumstances, so I was wondering whether they could go like Bumrah and Siraj and then play their three spinners, Washington Sundar, Jadeja, and Kuldeep. But you don’t know about the forecast in Manchester; that’s the other thing. If it’s going to be cooler and showery, the fast bowlers will come into it, but I think that’s a definite option India should think about,” Atherton said on the Sky Sports podcast.
Funnily, Atherton isn’t the only former captain who thinks that. Ajinkya Rahane also vouches for Kuldeep’s inclusion in the team. Rahane didn’t say who should sit out but suggested that on a flat and batting-friendly surface, you need wicket-takers. Scoring more runs isn’t more important than picking wickets, and depending on just Jasprit Bumrah for wickets isn’t the right approach.
“Depending on the condition of the wicket, I feel Kuldeep should play. If the wicket is similar to the last three Test matches, Kuldeep should play because you need guys who can get you those wickets. Our batting unit is doing really well. Even if you score 25-30 runs less, that’s okay. But you need people who can get you those wickets. You don’t want to depend on your leading fast bowlers every time,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Will Gambhir try Rishabh Pant or Nitish Reddy in IND vs SA 3rd ODI with series on the line?
Top Stories
