Why five bowlers? Why not KL Rahul? Was it necessary to leave Wriddhiman Saha? Who will hit at number 4? Questions were plentiful as Twitter was inundated with mixed reactions as India played XI for the Boxing Day test against Australia, starting on Saturday.
After losing the opening round of the day-night series in Adelaide by 8 wickets, India took drastic measures by making up to four changes to their side for the second round. Two of them, of course, were forced: Virat Kohli (on paternity leave) and Mohammed Shami (ruled out for a broken wrist).
Young Shubman Gill and pacemaker Mohammed Siraj are set to make their test debut at MCG. Gill came in to the side instead of an out-of-shape Prithvi Shaw, while Shami’s injury opened the doors for Siraj.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s XI for the second test
“Each and every member of this team is really capable of doing well, so it’s really a challenge for the captain and management to select all 11,” Rahane said in a video conference on Friday.
“We had just one bad hour (in Adelaide). It’s about staying positive, supporting your own skill, and making associations. “
Earlier on Friday, Rahane’s Australian counterpart Paine said that even without Kohli and others, the injured tourists were more than capable of reversing their fortunes.
“The moment we take our foot off the pedal and we think we’re doing fine (the performances can slip),” Paine told reporters. “A big focus of ours… has been winning after winning.
“We have been fantastic in how we have prepared for this game.”
Paine’s team will likely not change for the clash, and coach Justin Langer pretty much confirmed that Thursday when he said it would be a “pretty brave man” to knock anyone out of Adelaide’s game.
The match will also be played under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, with the fate of the third test in Sydney still up in the air due to a new outbreak on the city’s northern beaches that led to a lockdown and border closures.
The Melbourne test also typically draws large crowds, but Covid-19 restrictions have limited the crowd to 30,000.
“It’s going to be different, isn’t it?” Paine said.
“I think we are lucky to be playing a Boxing Day test at MCG.”
(With contributions from the agency)
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