Gambhir will not exclude Rahul, this player will be out of the team!

IND VS NZ / Gambhir will not exclude Rahul, this player will be out of the team!

IND VS NZ - Gambhir will not exclude Rahul, this player will be out of the team!

IND VS NZ: The second Test match will be played between India and New Zealand in Pune, and a big news before this match is that KL Rahul will also play in the second Test. Indian team's assistant coach Ten Descate confirmed this in the press conference. Descate said that team advisor Gautam Gambhir is not worried about Rahul's form and he has made up his mind to give Rahul a chance for a long period like Sanju Samson. Gambhir believes that Rahul has the ability and he needs more time and support so that he can return to his form.

So what will happen to Sarfaraz Khan?

With KL Rahul remaining in the team, a question arises as to what will happen to Sarfaraz Khan. Descate also revealed that Shubman Gill, who sat out in the first Test, is now fully fit and ready to play in the Pune Test. This means that Sarfaraz may have to sit out of the playing XI.

Sarfaraz Khan had performed brilliantly in the Bengaluru Test, scoring 150 runs, and despite his performance, if he is dropped, it will be unfair to him somewhere. However, considering the team combination and circumstances, not giving Sarfaraz a chance may be the strategic priority of the team.

Rishabh Pant's fitness

Assistant coach Descate also told that all the players of Team India are fully prepared for the Pune Test. Rishabh Pant is also fit, but he is having some difficulty in bending his knee completely. This condition of Pant can affect the wicketkeeping strategy of the team. If Pant is not fully fit to play, then KL Rahul can be given the responsibility of wicketkeeping, due to which Sarfaraz Khan can get a place in the team.

However, looking at the Pune pitch, the team may decide to play a regular wicketkeeper. In this situation, the name of Dhruv Jurel is also in discussion, who can contribute in batting along with wicketkeeping.

Washington Sundar's return to the team

Questions were also raised about Washington Sundar's sudden return to the team. Descate clarified that the reason for including Sundar in the team is the specialty of his bowling. Team India needed a bowler who can take the ball out against left-handed batsmen. Sundar has performed brilliantly in domestic cricket, especially Ranji Trophy, and due to his performance he has been given this opportunity.

The team already has bowlers like Axar Patel, but Sundar has been included to strengthen the team combination and perform better in different situations.

Conclusion

Team India's strategy and selection of players will be very important in the second Test match between India and New Zealand in Pune. With KL Rahul getting another chance, all eyes will be on his performance, while Sarfaraz Khan's drop can raise a big question. The challenge before the team is how they select their strong playing XI and adopt the right strategy according to the pitch conditions.