The Indian cricket team’s humiliating loss to Australia in the first test of the four-match series will have massive ramifications for the second test match. The team led by Virat Kohli had slumped to an eight-wicket loss in the opener of the Day-Night series after suffering an almighty collapse and finishing the second inning with 36 caps. According to a Times of India report, the team’s management has taken notice of the poor performance and is ready to sound the changes for the Boxing Day match to avoid another loss and keep their chances of winning the series alive.
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“Starter Prithvi Shaw could be replaced by KL Rahul, talented young man Shubhman Gill will make his Test debut, replacing skipper Virat Kohli at No. 4. Hanuma Vihari can make way for Ravindra Jadeja, who is back in shape. Wriddhiman Saha could lose his wicketkeeper place to Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj or Navdeep Saini could replace the injured pacemaker Mohammed Shami, “a BCCI source told the Times of India.
Shaw underperformed in the first test as well as the preparation games and the similar nature of his firing means that replacing him at the top of the order was almost a certainty.
Kohli will be going home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of the couple’s first child and thus the need for a replacement was always known.
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Saha continuing as the starting starter relied heavily on his hitting and failed to make a mark on Adelaide. By contrast, Pant had scored a century of rapid fire in the first game.
Vihari’s downfall is a bit surprising given that he has been one of India’s most reliable hitters in the lower order, especially in overseas conditions.
However, the logic behind leaving him for Jadejs is mainly due to the fact that he gives India an additional bowling option, while also adding an excellent outfielder in the XI.
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“This way, we get an all-rounder at number 6. Then we can enjoy the luxury of five specialized bowlers: two spinners and three pacemakers,” said the source.
Ajinkya Rahane will assume the role of alternate captain for the remaining three games of the series, as skipper Virat Kohli will return home after being granted paternity leave by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).
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