Border-Gavaskar Trophy: India are likely to replace Suryakumar Yadav with fit-again Shreyas Iyer for the 2nd Test, starting February 17 in Delhi. Australia, on the other hand, has multiple selection issues to deal with ahead of their must-win match.
Shreyas Iyer is likely to return to the second Test in Delhi (AFP Photo)
By Akshay Ramesh: The pitch debate hasn’t been as intense as it was in the Nagpur Test. 2 days away from the 2nd Test, the focus has been on getting the preparations right. Australia, as Rahul Dravid expects, must have learned valuable lessons from the innings and 132-run defeat in the first Test.
India would have hoped for a stern test against the touring Australians, the World No. 1 side, after having steamrolled opposition in the past. However, India won the 1st Test in Nagpur inside 3 days, strolling to a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India will be looking forward to making use of the winning run and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as early as the 2nd Test in Delhi.
The attention has turned towards getting the team combination right. India might have sealed an emphatic victory to set the tone early in the series but the hosts would look to make sure they get the combination right.
Shreyas Iyer’s return from injury is a big boost to India as the middle order looked wobbly in Nagpur. Iyer has been one of the top performers for India in 2022, having scored 409 runs in 5 Tests.
IYER GOOD UNDER PRESSURE: DRAVID
Head coach Rahul Dravid, speaking to the press on Wednesday, said Shreyas Iyer will return to the XI straightaway, provided he is fit enough for the rigorous of the Test match.
“If he’s fit and ready to go and ready to take the load of a five-day Test match, then it is without a doubt that his performance means he will walk straight into the side,” Dravid said.
Dravid heaped praise on Iyer’s ability to handle pressure, saying that the Mumbai batter along with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja have found ways to bail the team out of trouble quite a few times in the past.
“Shreyas has played well against spin, but what’s really stood out has been his temperament. We’ve been in quite a few pressure situations with Shreyas around, right from the first Test match that he played, his debut game in Kanpur.” he added.
“It’ll be nice to have him back, and he certainly has been one of our better players, he deserves it, and people in the team understand that as well. They know that if they are replacing someone who is injured, that person will probably come back, and the same thing will be followed for them as well – if they get injured, hopefully, we’ll be able to give them the same treatment as well.”
India also have Shubman Gill waiting in the wings and there’s outside noise about KL Rahul’s place in the side but the vice-captain is likely to get another opportunity, if not more, at the top of the order. Rahul is going through a lean patch but he had done well in England and South Africa in 2021-22 season.
STARC, GREEN FIT FOR 2ND TEST?
On the other hand, Australia have a few selection headaches as they look to pick themselves up from the hammering.
The visitors will be mighty relieved if they get Mitchell Starc fit for the 2nd Test. The left-arm pacer, who underwent surgery for a finger injury sustained in the Boxing Day Test, said he would have hoped to be at a better stage with his recovery but would do everything in his limits to be available for the must-win match.
“It’s progressing – not as fast as I would have liked, but it’s as planned in terms of the medical stuff. There’s a few boxes to tick, but it’s on track,” Starc said.
“I’d like to be a little further down the road, yeah.”
On the other hand, Australia are fretting over the recovery of Cameron Green, who is key to the visitors getting their combination right. Green had scans on his injured finger earlier this week and has been training with the team since the start of his first Test. However, he reportedly had discomfort while batting at the nets in Delhi on Wednesday.
In the absence of Green, Australia will miss a proven all-rounder and it might affect their plans to play 3 spinners. Australia played two off-spinners in Nathan Lyon and debutant Todd Murphy in Nagpur but missed someone who could take the ball away from the left-hander.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald hinted at the possibility of Australia playing 3 spinners after having flown in left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann for the 2nd Test. However, it would depend on Green’s availability.
Australia also have another tricky issue around the opener’s slot as senior opener David Warner looked completely out of touch in Nagpur. It remains to be seen if the visitors will take the big call to drop one of their biggest match-winners but having not played Travis Head in Nagpur, Australia would want to slot the in-form batter in.
Head replacing Matt Renshaw, who managed just 2 runs in the first Test, is another option for the 2nd Test.