Four changes have been made to India's playing xi for the Boxing Day Test at MCG. (Twitter/BCCI) KL Rahul’s non-inclusion for the 2nd Test vs Australia has earned disapproval from several former Indian cricketers, while some have said that the strategy of going in with five bowlers for the match is “bizarre” at the MCG, the venue of the Test.
“Don’t get why KL Rahul is dropped for the boxing test! #BoxingDayTest,” tweeted former opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Don’t get why @klrahul11 is dropped for the boxing test! #BoxingDayTest
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) December 25, 2020
“New Opportunities Kindle Life,” wrote Wasim Jaffer, another former India opener. True to his recent style of coding his messages, Jaffer’s message can be abbreviated to “No KL.”
New
Opportunities
Kindle
Life #BoxingDayTest #WeBelieve https://t.co/CzFV3XWLdh— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 25, 2020
Fromer Indian fast bowler Dodda Ganesh said it is bizarre that India are going into the MCG match with five bowlers instead of strengthening their batting order.
The team suffered a major embarrassment because of batting failure. And instead of strengthening the batting for the Boxing Day test, the think tank has gone with 5 bowlers with 2 spinners. Bizarre tactics, considering the conditions at the MCG #DoddaMathu #AUSvIND
— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) December 25, 2020
Gautam Gambhir had earlier said that India’s strategy of rotating their wicketkeepers is not doing justice to either.
“This team looks so unsettled because no one is secured. Professional sport is all about security. it’s been unfair on Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha both over a long period of time when they have picked and chosen players on conditions. You don’t do that with wicketkeepers. You do that with bowlers,” he said.
Follow Live Blog: India vs Australia Day 1 of Boxing Day
India XI for the 2nd Test: Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj.
India are trailing 1-0 in the four-match series after a eight-wicket loss in the pink-ball Test.
