If the IND A vs AUS A series is any indication of the things to come, then it will be a total struggle for Team India led by Rohit Sharma, once the series begins in Down Under, on November 22. But the team management can make things better with a few smart decisions, if only sanity prevails.
The Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff, who is under severe criticism after India lost home series 0-3, would be under a lot of pressure to deliver. They will have to be brave, and pick players, not on their reputation, but the ones who are in form. For example, Mohammed Siraj in his last four Test matches, has only bagged six wickets, out of which, no wickets have come in the second innings of a Test.
So he looks woefully out of form, and should not even be considered for selection. Having said that, in Australia, he has played 3 Tests, and bagged 13 wickets, on the last tour. But then, purely on the basis of form, he should not be picked with Jasprit Bumrah.
Instead, Prasidh Krishna should be given a chance, who is tall and strong, and the pitches in Australia will suit him. Apart from that he has proven himself in the IND A vs AUS A two-match unofficial Test series. While entire team flopped there, Prasidh returned with 10 wickets in two matches.
Not just that, he scored some crucial runs with the bat, 14 & 29, in the second match. Although that hardly made any difference to the context of the match, but then, he showed the fight, that is always necessary in Australia. For the record, he has played two Tests for India so far, against South Africa last year, and picked two wickets in them.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
ICC release schedule for Champions Trophy 2025, India-Pakistan clash on February 23 in Dubai
Top Stories
