From the 16 players chosen for the team, Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma must choose the starting XI for the first Test match against Bangladesh. The captain and coach will have a headache, but a good one, in selecting the starting XI for the first Test match in Chennai. The selection committee did its job, selecting the 16 best available players.
While there are certain players in the starting lineup who are unquestionable starters, there are also places where two players will be vying for a spot. Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are the two choices for wicketkeeping, while Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul will compete for the fifth-ranking berth in the middle-order.
Because Rahul is a bigger player than Sarfaraz, according to former BCCI top selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth, he should be chosen over Sarfaraz. The same is true for Pant, who he believes should start as wicketkeeper over Jurel.
To be honest, I’m sorry for Sarfaraz Khan. However, this does occasionally occur in Test cricket. Even though you’ve been playing well, you’ll have to drop out when a major player comes back. Consider the fact that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan are losing their positions due to Rishabh Pant’s return. On his YouTube account, Srikkanth announced, “KL Rahul is coming in.”
The 1983 World Cup winner believes that Rahul’s experience playing abroad will also offer him an advantage against Sarfaraz, who has only participated in one series—at home against England earlier this year.
In the back of their minds, they plan to keep the Australia series as well. There are also visitors from New Zealand. KL Rahul has done well abroad, particularly in Australia,” Srikkanth continued.
Over the past few years, Rahul has been an integral component of India’s red-ball setup, having played 50 Test matches for his country. Prior to the important Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team management will try to give him more opportunities.
In contrast, Rishabh Pant is scheduled to return to Test cricket following a terrifying vehicle accident in December 2022. He missed fifteen months of time due to severe ailments to his back and knees.
Since making his comeback to the top level of cricket last year, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has excelled, and he has maintained his success in all formats, which included the team’s June T20 World Cup victory.
The post Kris Srikkanth’s Concern: KL Rahul’s Return to India Squad Leaves Sarfaraz Khan Facing Uncertainty appeared first on Cricket Country.
