After India’s lousy spectacle with the bat, numerous former cricketers have listed the changes they would like to see in the team’s game XI for Test 2 against Australia in Melbourne starting December 26. The latest to recommend a mix is former India hitter Gautam Gambhir. who has suggested many changes to the Indian team.
For starters, Gambhir feels that Shubman Gill should replace Prithvi Shaw to open with Mayank Agarwal. Gambhir admitted that while he wanted Shaw to start the series given the spark he had shown earlier this year in New Zealand, but seeing the current confidence level of the 20-year-old, who scored 0 and 4 in Adelaide and had his technique examined . . Gambhir acknowledges that Gill appears to be a better option at the moment, as he is coming off a string of impressive scores in the two practice games.
Also read: India vs Australia: Will Rahul Dravid fly to Australia? Rajeev Shukla Answers
“I wanted Prithvi Shaw to start the series because if a player has scored a hundred and two fifty in four test matches and has reached fifty on the last difficult tour to New Zealand, then you start with him, without a doubt the form was not good. Gambhir said on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected Show. “But now in the kind of shape he’s in, rather than the form, his confidence is very low, so I’ll want to see Shubman Gill at the top along with Mayank Agarwal and Pujara at No. 3.”
As for the middle order, Gambhir feels that in the absence of Virat Kohli, he would rather see alternate captain Ajinkya Rahane at No. 4. Gambhir also accepted the inclusion of Rishabh Pant over Wriddhiman Saha and KL Rahul over Hanuma Vihari at No. 5. Gambhir went ahead with a five-pin strategy, saying India would be better off playing two spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, along with the three fast players.
“I’ll want to see Rahane at number 4. I don’t want Rahane to stay at number 5 because if he’s captain now, he has to lead from the front. So Rahane should play No. 4 instead of Virat Kohli, “added Gambhir. “KL Rahul should play No. 5 and Rishabh Pant should play No. 6. Jadeja and Ashwin should play No. 7 and No. 8 and then three closers. I’ll want to go in with five bowlers. “
.
