Ajinkya Rahane's Indian cricket team are having massive injury issues ahead of the deciding fourth and final Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The Indian cricket team put up a heroic show in the Sydney Test against Australia as they held on for an epic draw. Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin battled pain and injuries to bat out 42 overs and over 250 deliveries as they salvaged a draw and ensured the four-match series would be decided at Brisbane. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently 1-1 and heading into Brisbane, there are some issues with the Indian cricket team. The amount of injuries in the Indian cricket team is massive and they have had to employ all their back-up resources to ensure that they have a fit playing 11 for the fourth Test in Australia's fortress of the Gabba.
The list of injuries in the Indian cricket team is massive. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Brisbane Test due to an abdominal strain. Umesh Yadav has flown back following a calf muscle strain. Ravindra Jadeja is out of the match and possibly the England series after dislocating his thumb in Sydney and undergoing surgery. Hanuma Vihari, the hero in Sydney, is out due to a grade 2 hamstring tear. There are doubts even over R Ashwin and Mayank Agarwal's fitness. Ashwin is suffering from a back injury while Agarwal was hit on the arm while practising in Sydney.
With so many injuries, it makes the Indian cricket team fan wonder how can Ajinkya Rahane stitch a proper playing 11 for Brisbane? Here are the possible contenders for the Team 11 that will play the deciding Test in Brisbane.
Another debut, inexperienced bowling
The injury to Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja means that India need to fill the slot of two bowlers in the line-up. Shardul Thakur has been added to the line-up and he will mostly make his debut. T Natarajan, who impressed in the Twenty20 Internationals against Australia, will also make his debut which will mean the Indian pace attack has a combined experience of just three Tests. Mohammed Siraj will open with the new ball and he might be partnered by Shardul Thakur. Navdeep Saini and T Natarajan will make up the bowling of the Indian cricket team.
Now, India will be faced with a major spin conundrum if Ravichandran Ashwin is ruled out of the match. Washington Sundar is a net bowler and has been drafted as the back-up in the team. However, India will have to turn to Kuldeep Yadav if Ashwin is not fit. This will make the Indian cricket team tail very long indeed.
Play both Pant and Saha
The Indian cricket team composition has been thrown into disarray due to the absence of Ravindra Jadeja. The batting looks solid on paper but it is the lower-middle order that will be a huge problem. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane select themselves. However, the situation has been compounded by the fact that even Mayank Agarwal is unfit. The management has no confidence in Prithvi Shaw and he might not come into the playing 11.
If Agarwal is fit, then he will play and Rishabh Pant will be the keeper. If Agarwal is unfit, then it makes sense to play both Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha. Pant can play purely as a batsman while Saha can be a solid keeper behind the stumps.
India's potential playing 11 for Brisbane
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin/Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj
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