IND vs AUS: Should team drop Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli? How India could go ahead in Border每Gavaskar Trophy
India's hopes of reaching the WTC Final hang in the balance after a disastrous loss in Adelaide. With the 5-match series tied 1-1, questions loom over senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Will India make bold changes at Gabba?
While Team India won their clash in Perth, things went downhill when they reached Adelaide, where the Men in Blue suffered a disastrous loss in the Pink-Ball day-night Test of the Border每Gavaskar Trophy. Now, with the 5-match series tied at 1-1, India, aiming to secure a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, must win all their remaining matches.
It is time to look ahead.
〞 BCCI (@BCCI) December 10, 2024
Preparations for the Brisbane Test starts right here in Adelaide.#TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VfWphBK6pe
Reflecting on India's performance in the Adelaide Test, the team endured a crushing 10-wicket defeat. Apart from Nitish Kumar Reddy, no player significantly contributed. This poor performance has raised questions, especially about the senior batters namely Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who failed to deliver when the team needed them most. Should the two stars step aside for younger players?
Should India drop Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?
After a bad series against New Zealand at home, all eyes were on Virat Kohli. He disappointed all after his wicket fell in the 1st innings, but shone with a century in the second innings at Perth. However, in Adelaide, he faltered under pressure.
As for the captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma, had missed the 1st Test due to the birth of his son. However, in the 2nd Test, where he gave up his opening slot to KL Rahul and batted down the order, he appeared out of form.
Australia win the second Test and level the series.#TeamIndia aim to bounce back in the third Test.
〞 BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2024
Scoreboard ?? https://t.co/upjirQCmiV#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Tc8IYLwpan
India could consider bringing in Dhruv Jurel, who performed well in the Perth Test and give a chance to Sarfaraz Khan as well in place of the two cricketing giants.
Should R Ashwin make way for Washington Sundar?
Washington Sundar had performed well in the 1st Test and was instrumental in India's games against New Zealand at home. However, he was replaced by R Ashwin in the 2nd Test, where the veteran all-rounder struggled both with the ball and the bat. Notably, Sundar played a key role in India's historic win at Gabba, making a strong case for his inclusion in the upcoming matches.
India's propeble playing XI without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj.
Will India make changes for the 3rd Test at The Gabba against Australia? It's uncertain, as the decision lies with coach Gautam Gambhir and the skipper. However, fans are hopeful the Men in Blue will stage a strong comeback and win the remaining games.
For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
Read More
