India must make a few tweaks and play their best possible combination.
The Melbourne Test defeat was shattering for the Indian team because they looked set to draw it at one stage, but the final session took away all the hard work. India lost as many as seven wickets in the final session, letting Australia get a 2-1 lead in the series.
Now the final Test becomes a must-win for India to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. India must make a few tweaks and play their best possible combination for that to happen.
We look at three realistic changes India should make for the Sydney Test.
One of the worst moves by the team management in this series was shuffling KL Rahul’s batting position and moving Rohit Sharma back to the top. Rahul has been one of their best batters and did amazingly well as an opener. Still, Rohit decided to take the opening slot, and it didn’t work.
Rohit and Rahul failed in the game, and the latter wasn’t at fault either. So, Rahul should be re-slotted to the opening position in the Sydney Test because that’s where his best has come. Meanwhile, Rohit should return to No.6 and play in the lower middle order.
Another shocking move was dropping Shubman Gill, which Rohit termed was done to give themselves more bowling options. However, Gill is among the best players in Australian conditions and has previously done well here. He should be back in the XI and take the No.3 slot.
Meanwhile, Washington Sundar should sit out, even though he did well as a batter in the Melbourne Test. India didn’t really utilise his bowling, and if he has to play as a batter, Gill is a better option. There’s also an option to drop Ravindra Jadeja, but his batting value is precious, and he bowled relatively well in the previous game.
While Akash Deep has bowled well in every game, he has been mighty unlucky not to get too many wickets. He has drawn false shots, but they haven’t resulted in consistent wickets. Hence, the team might bring someone more suited to the conditions.
India have Prasidh Krishna, one of the best hit-the-deck pacers who can hurry the Aussie batters with his pace. He might be a better option than Akash, who doesn’t really hit the surface with his pace. This might be a slightly unfair move, but the team needs someone who has more chances of succeeding, and Krishna’s bowling is perfectly suited for Australian decks.
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