इस मैच में (” Sarfaraz Khan vs KL Rahul”) के बीच मुकाबला है, जिसमें अंतिम एकादश पर विशेष जोर दिया गया है क्योंकि टीम इंडिया न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ दूसरे टेस्ट में वापसी करना चाहेगी।
India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, stated on Tuesday that KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are competing for a spot in the middle order for the upcoming second Test against New Zealand. Despite head coach Gautam Gambhir’s intention to provide Rahul with extended opportunities, the selection remains competitive. Following an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru, the team is eager to make a strong comeback, with particular attention on the lineup, especially with the inclusion of Washington Sundar in the squad. Additionally, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are both working to recover from their respective injuries ahead of the match scheduled to commence on Thursday.
There is no use in downplaying the situation; there is indeed competition for a position, ten Doeschate stated to the media when questioned about the contest between Rahul and Sarfaraz for a place in the team at the MCA Stadium prior to India’s training session.
“Sarfaraz performed exceptionally well in the last Test. After that match, I spoke to KL and inquired about how many balls he played and missed. He did not miss a single ball, which is often the case when runs are hard to come by.
“There are no worries regarding KL; he is batting well and is in a positive mental state. However, we will need to fit seven players into six positions for this Test, and we must assess the pitch to determine the best combination for the team,” he remarked.
Sarfaraz achieved a remarkable 150 runs in the second innings of the Bengaluru match, while Rahul struggled in both innings.
While acknowledging the challenge of excluding Rahul from the Test lineup, ten Doeschate mentioned that head coach Gautam Gambhir is “eager to” provide him with ample opportunities.
“We are not concerned about his form. Over the past three months since Gauti’s arrival, he has been keen to give Rahul as much support as possible. We have great confidence in him,” he stated.
“Nonetheless, it is a highly competitive atmosphere, especially with Sarfaraz scoring over 150 runs (222 not out) in the Irani Trophy final. The decision will ultimately be based on what is best for the team, but we will certainly support all the players,” he added.
Pant, who did not keep wickets for a considerable portion of the opening Test, and Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to neck stiffness, are nearing full fitness.
“Rishabh is doing quite well. Rohit (Sharma) mentioned recently that he experienced some discomfort at the end of his knee’s range of motion. However, we are hopeful that he will be fit to keep wickets in the Test,” he noted.
“As for Gill, he appears to be available for this Test. He practiced last week in Bangalore and had a few sessions.”