Wasim Jaffer, a former Indian batsman, has announced his choice of players for the second Test between India and Australia. By leaving out vice-captain KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, he made two changes to the winning combination. Rahul has consistently needed help with the most extended format. He has a disappointing away series against Bangladesh, culminating in a routine dismissal at the hands of rookie Todd Murphy in the opening Test in Nagpur.
KL Rahul scored 50 runs in a Test match for the last time in the second match against South Africa in January of 2022.
Jaffer decided to replace Rahul with Shubman Gill. Having no one to bat ahead of him, and with Suryakumar batting fifth in place of Shreyas Iyer, the prolific striker was forced to sit out the series’ first game. After scoring a century in difficult conditions during India’s victory, Rohit Sharma’s position in the team was secure.
Veterans of the middle order, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were also present, with Pujara set to play in his 100th Test. The BCCI has verified Shreyas’s comeback at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and he has since rejoined the squad in Delhi. He has been slotted into the starting XI at his usual No. 5 position.
Despite an unimpressive effort in his first Test, Jaffer included KS Bharat in his starting lineup. The Andhra Pradesh wicketkeeper struggled to score in the first Test, scoring only eight runs, but he played a strong game behind the wickets, especially against the spinners. With the same bowling lineup having taken 20 wickets in 95 overs in Nagpur, Jaffer decided to continue with it. Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom have proven their brilliance with the ball, make the dangerous spin trio of the bowling squad. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Siraj were relatively unseen in the first Test, but they performed their duties admirably and were so retained.
The starting XI selected by Wasim Jaffer to confront Australia in the second Test are – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Siraj.
It has been decided that the second Test between India and Australia would begin on February 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Men in Blue have a one-game advantage in the four-game series.
