India vs New Zealand: Rohit Sharma’s Team Selection
In a crucial Test match against New Zealand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma decided to leave out spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Instead, he chose Akash Deep, a seamer in good form, and Washington Sundar, a spin-bowling all-rounder. This decision was made for the second Test of the series at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Team Changes and Reactions
New Zealand’s captain, Tom Latham, won the toss and chose to bat first. For India, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav were not included in the playing eleven. Shubman Gill returned after missing the first Test due to neck stiffness. Akash Deep replaced Siraj, and Washington Sundar took Kuldeep’s spot, marking his first Test appearance since March 2021.
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar supported the decision, stating that the pitch conditions favored a seamer like Akash Deep over a spinner like Kuldeep. He expressed his views on social media, emphasizing the practicality of the selection.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Opinion
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, however, was disappointed with Kuldeep’s exclusion. He suggested that including Sundar was a sign of panic, aimed at strengthening the batting lineup rather than focusing on bowling. Gavaskar believed Kuldeep’s ability to challenge left-handed batsmen would have been beneficial.
Current Series Status
India is trailing 1-0 in the series and needs a win to maintain their home dominance and improve their chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship finals. The team is preparing for a challenging series against Australia next.
Playing Elevens
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah | Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke |
Doubts Revealed
Rohit Sharma -: Rohit Sharma is a famous Indian cricketer and the captain of the Indian cricket team. He is known for his excellent batting skills and leadership on the field.
Kuldeep Yadav -: Kuldeep Yadav is an Indian cricketer who is a spin bowler. Spin bowlers are players who make the ball turn or spin when they bowl, making it harder for the batsman to hit.
Seamer -: A seamer is a type of bowler in cricket who relies on the seam of the ball to make it move off the pitch. This can make it difficult for batsmen to play.
All-rounder -: An all-rounder is a cricket player who is good at both batting and bowling. They are very valuable to the team because they can contribute in multiple ways.
Sanjay Manjrekar -: Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer and now a cricket commentator. He shares his opinions and analysis about cricket matches on TV and other media.
Sunil Gavaskar -: Sunil Gavaskar is a legendary former Indian cricketer known for his excellent batting. He is also a cricket commentator and often shares his views on cricket matches.
Panic move -: A panic move in sports is a decision made quickly out of fear or worry, rather than careful planning. It often happens when a team is under pressure.
ICC World Test Championship -: The ICC World Test Championship is a tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the best Test cricket team in the world. Teams play matches over a period of time to earn points and qualify for the finals.