Gill, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant & Jadeja set to play Boxing Day Test - TOI

[kubrickian]

They should stick with Vihari instead of Jadeja for one more game. He has looked decent in the few innings I have seen and played a few good knocks in overseas conditions. He seems to lack confidence and looks couple of knocks away from being at his best. Genuine batsman anyway is better than Jadeja as a batting option in overseas tests and bowling wise, 2 spinners is an overkill in Australian conditions.

Edited December 21, 2020 by kubrickian

[express bowling]

20 minutes ago, kubrickian said:

They should stick with Vihari instead of Jadeja for one more game. He has looked decent in the few innings I have seen and played a few good knocks in overseas conditions. He seems to lack confidence and looks couple of knocks away from being at his best. Genuine batsman anyway is better than Jadeja as a batting option in overseas tests and bowling wise, 2 spinners is an overkill in Australian conditions.

 

 

Jadeja, the batsman, averages 48.6 from 24 test matches in the last 4 years ... away average of 46.8.

 

This is spectacular. Plus he plays at a high SR of 63+.

 

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/234675.html?class=1;spanmax1=21+Dec+2020;spanmin1=21+Dec+2016;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

And the 2nd test will be played in spin friendly conditions.

 

Pant at 6 and Jadeja at 7 would be ideal.

 

 

[Gollum]

Not wise to impose excessive workload on bowler Jadeja (surely Rahane won't be as clueless as Kohli), he can bowl 10-15 tight overs per innings and gradually increase bowling load so that by the time Eng home series starts he is fully fit with minimum chance of relapse. He must play as a batting A/R the next test and this must be communicated to him clearly (switch to batsman's mindset), we aren't expecting him to do wonders with the ball, but if he can average 40 odd and string together a couple of decent partnerships it will do our chances a world of good. Now we have 2 LHBs in the XI, should make a difference. 

[Scarface]

Good set of changes, if true. KLR at 4 would be better as he has a higher ceiling to cash in once he is set.

Is Natarajan not ready for test cricket yet? I read somewhere that he was the best net bowler and beat all 3 (Pujara, Kohli, Rahane). Could be a good variation if there are 5 bowlers.

[coffee_rules]

Why replace Vihari? 

[Kothili]

6 hours ago, Sandeep99 said:

Believe me, this is the bets possible XI for India atm. Even if we lose now, I'm happy they're fielding the best possible XI from the available resources -

 

Rahul

Agarwal

Pujara

Gill

Rahane

Jadeja

Pant

Ashwin

Siraj

Bumrah

Umesh/Saini

 

Time for Saha to retire already. If Gill clicks, time for Rahane to retire by the end of this tour.

 

 

Just don't understand why KL sucks in Tests. Hope he gets it right if picked.

[SK_IH]

12 minutes ago, coffee_rules said:

Why replace Vihari? 

Some people have already made their opinion that he is not international standard. It's a disgrace really. If he was that ordinary why did TM play him in the first match. Now, every youngster is being swept aside & perennial failure will captain the side. Same treatment will be given to Gill if he fails in couple of games.

[Stan AF]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Not wise to impose excessive workload on bowler Jadeja (surely Rahane won't be as clueless as Kohli), he can bowl 10-15 tight overs per innings and gradually increase bowling load so that by the time Eng home series starts he is fully fit with minimum chance of relapse. He must play as a batting A/R the next test and this must be communicated to him clearly (switch to batsman's mindset), we aren't expecting him to do wonders with the ball, but if he can average 40 odd and string together a couple of decent partnerships it will do our chances a world of good. Now we have 2 LHBs in the XI, should make a difference. 

 

There'll be 4 other bowlers. Siraj will also debut i guess with bumrah and umesh.

 

Gill

Mayank

Pujara

KL

Rahane

Pant

Jadeja

Ashwin

Umesh

Bumrah

Siraj

[Gollum]

Would love it if Gill and Pant score daddy 100s, have a huge partnership and get praise from Aussie commentators, experts, players (idiots like Sanju Manju and Bhogle will play it down)

 

Best possible FU to the TM. 

[Bigg Brother]

Vihari should be persisted with. He looked okay on last tour to Australia and scored a ton in WI. Not his fault that Rohit get to score some easy runs against depleted SA at home and he was benched.

[coffee_rules]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/aus-vs-ind-2nd-test-who-replaces-virat-kohli-mohammed-shami-should-rishabh-pant-shubman-gill-get-a-game-1244826

 

Most have voted for this X1

 

Aggarwal, Gill, Pujara, Rahane, KL, Vihari, Pant, Ashwin, Umesh, Bumrah, Siraj

 

Vihari most likely to be axed. I would prefer him for KL. KL is untested in red-ball cricket for a long time, There is a better chance of Vihari making it back to form.

[ShoonyaSifar]

What exactly has Rahul done to come back to the test team? He did not even play the practice matches. Give the entire series to Vihari please

[rtmohanlal]

here we go again.... Vihari is getting the treatment... Rahul who has been given enough chances and   getting proven to  be inadequate at this level  is tried again.....

As if Vihari was the chief culprit in that 36/9  horror show !!!

 

When will this dumb ass TM realize that this constant shuffling  is not at all the way of grooming a player , especially batsman? 

Edited December 21, 2020 by rtmohanlal

[urbestfriend]

If true, hard for Vihari. 

 

Vihari must be persisted with , even at the cost of Rahul. Rahane can play at #4 and Vihari at #5. Or even they can ask Vihari to open with Gill in middle order.

 

 

[express bowling]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

Would love it if Gill and Pant score daddy 100s, have a huge partnership and get praise from Aussie commentators, experts, players (idiots like Sanju Manju and Bhogle will play it down)

 

Best possible FU to the TM. 

 

 

It is amazing, isn't it ! 

 

Almost everyone I know, who watch cricket, feel that Manju and Harsha will always play down every Indian achievement and promote every foreign achievement.

 

Yet, these two shrimpy nerds are present in almost every commentary panel.

 

Why !!

[maniac]

Is this his wishlist or is it a journalist reporting based on sources?

[bowl_out]

Vihari playing ahead of KL makes sense.. Only thing is if TM is looking at KL as an opener and Vihari as a middle order bat (although he opened once).

 

That means Gill is playing in Kohli's place and Jadeja in Vihari's place..

 

I think Gill and Jadeja are a must.. The toss up between Vihari vs KL could go either way... Ideally, Vihari should get 1-2 more games and if he fails, then KL replaces him...

And that also means Gill opens the innings

[Vilander]

11 hours ago, Rasgulla said:

poor vihari getting booted because he doesn't have backing or from a popular state.

 

11 hours ago, Gollum said:

In an ideal world, Vihari would keep his spot and Rahane kicked out. So unlucky Vihari, made to play all the tough matches in Eng/NZ/Aus and kept out of home matches where his prowess against spin can expose phoney Rahane. 

 

they choose to save Rahane.

[Vilander]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

 

 

It is amazing, isn't it ! 

 

Almost everyone I know, who watch cricket, feel that Manju and Harsha will always play down every Indian achievement and promote every foreign achievement.

 

Yet, these two shrimpy nerds are present in almost every commentary panel.

 

Why !!

 

i think its time Harsha was booted out, he is too nerdy for any sport. 

[Tyron]

Why we never pick the right combo is beyond me. You pick players based on their performances in specific conditions.