India’s preparations for the decisive fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney have taken a dramatic turn as the team management considers major changes to the playing eleven, according to a report in The Indian Express. Among the possible changes, including an injury to a frontline pacer, is Rishabh Pant’s place in the side. The wicketkeeper-batsman is now under serious scrutiny following criticism of his batting approach in the MCG Test.
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Pant’s position has been in the spotlight after his dismissals in the Melbourne Test sparked widespread criticism, including harsh words from batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.
The left-hander was caught at the boundary twice while attempting risky shots, raising questions about his shot selection at crucial moments in the game. His dismissal in the second innings led to a collapse in which India lost seven wickets in the space of 34 runs, leading to a defeat and giving Australia a 2–1 lead in the series.
Captain Rohit Sharma also spoke about Pant’s approach, urging him to better assess risks and adapt to match situations. While acknowledging the success Pant has had in his natural attacking game, Rohit stressed the need for the 27-year-old to find a balance between aggression and responsibility.
“More than any of us, it’s about him understanding and figuring out what the right way to do it is. In the past, you’ve given us a lot of success doing what you do. As a captain, there is kind of a mixed reaction to this,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.
“Sometimes you want to get behind the idea of him playing the way he plays, sometimes when things don’t look good it frustrates everyone. That’s what it is, that’s reality. It is success and failure; it is necessary to balance them. As a captain, it is difficult to have a conversation when he has also had a lot of success.”
According to the report, 23-year-old Dhruv Jurel, who impressed in the warm-up matches with scores of 80 and 68 for India A, is being considered as Pant’s replacement. Jurel’s ability to provide stability in the middle order and his solid wicket-keeping skills make him a strong contender, but it would still be a brave decision by Gautam Gambhir and Co. if they decide to drop Pant ahead of some of the other underperforming senior batsmen. including the captain.
The possible decision is reminiscent of an infamous moment in the history of Indian cricket involving Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. In 1984, Kapil was dropped from the Kolkata Test against England under Gavaskar’s captaincy after playing a reckless shot in the previous match.
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The Indian team management now faces an equally challenging decision with Rishabh Pant. His ability to deliver match-winning performances is undeniable, but not playing to level the playing field could leave the team in a difficult situation.
The series decider in Sydney holds immense importance as India look to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the batting and bowling combinations under review, the team’s final XI will be crucial in determining their chances of saving the series.
India likely to play XI for SCG Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant/Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna/Harshit Rana/Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj