The Indian selectors and team management have a tough task ahead of them to choose the playing XI for the first Test. With some of the senior players back in contention, a few youngsters who have performed admirably might have to make way.
In a recent edition of the Star Sports show Game Plan, Gautam Gambhir was asked about the number of bowlers India should field in their playing XI.
The former Indian opener responded by stating that India should definitely go in with a five-pronged bowling attack. He reasoned Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, who would bat at No. 7 and No. 8 respectively, are capable of wielding the willow.
Gautam Gambhir was also asked about Jasprit Bumrah playing his first Test match at home. He replied that he would rest the speedster after playing him in the first Test and bring him back into the playing XI for the day-night Test in Ahmedabad.
Gautam Gambhir shared his preferred Indian playing XI. He opted to play Mohammed Siraj ahead of old warhorse Ishant Sharma.
“Mayank Agarwal will have to wait for his turn” - Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was asked about Mayank Agarwal missing out after scoring a mountain of runs in India’s last home season.
The southpaw acknowledged the Karnataka opener might be slightly unlucky after an excellent start to his Test career, but said that he will have to bide his time for now.
Gautam Gambhir highlighted that Shubman Gill has moved ahead of Agarwal in the pecking order after his pleasing knocks in Australia. However, he added that the latter would certainly be kept in the Indian team as a backup opener.
Mayank Agarwal amassed 597 runs in the five Test matches he played in India’s last home season at a Bradmanesque average of 99.50.
But he seemed out of sorts in the recent Test series against Australia and lost his place as an opener after Rohit Sharma joined the squad.
He will hope to resolve the technical issues in his game and earn his spot in the Indian team back at the earliest.
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