Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach of India said that KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are closely competing for a place in the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand. Although head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted to give Rahul support a little longer, the team is keen to bounce back from the eight-wicket defeat in Bengaluru. More mystery into the composition of the team presents itself with Washington Sundar joining the team. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have been cleared and declared fit ahead of the Thursday-starting match. This would even make it tough for the selection committee to decide who’ll be a better option in Pune Test.
Sarfaraz Khan Or KL Rahul? A Tough Fight For The Spot
Sarfaraz impressed in the second innings with 150 but Rahul struggled in both innings.
Ten Doeschate said that it was not an easy task to leave out Rahul from the Test eleven but he said Gambhir wanted to give Rahul a proper opportunity. But Sarfaraz’s spectacular batting has already given extra pressure on Rahul and another dull game in Pune might bring a bigger danger for him in the side.
“Yeah, there’s no point in sugarcoating it, there’s a fight for a spot,” ten Doeschate told the media when asked if Rahul and Sarfaraz were battling for a place in the team, here at the MCA Stadium ahead of India’s training session.
Sarfaraz Khan’s Excellent Form– Big Challenge For Rahul
“Sarfaraz was obviously brilliant in the last Test. I went to KL after the last Test (and) said how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He didn’t play at (and) miss at one ball and that’s what tends to happen when you’re not getting runs.
“There’s certainly no concerns about KL, he’s batting nicely, he’s in a good mental space. But we are certainly going to have to fit seven pieces into six spots for this Test and look at the pitch now and decide what’s going to be best for the team,” he said.
Gautam Gambhir Keen To Back Rahul
“It’s not like we’re worried about his form. If you go on just the past three months since Gauti has been in here, he’s keen to give him (Rahul) as much rope as we can. We have a lot of faith in him,” he said.
KL Rahul registered scores of 0 and 12 respectively, which makes his chances dim to be selected in India’s playing XI. But the experience he brings in for the team is immense and the management will be deciding about his playing taking the consideration the conditions.
Rishabh Pant Fully Fit
Ryan ten Doeschate has confirmed that Rishabh Pant is going to be very much available as India’s wicketkeeper for the second Test against New Zealand, since it is scheduled at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. According to ten Doeschate, Pant has recovered and is likely to wear the gloves when India looks to level the series on Thursday. There was some talk of Dhruv Jurel coming in, given worries over Pant’s fitness-especially after he complained of discomfort in his right knee and didn’t take part in any further wicket-keeping from the remainder of Day 2, having put on a brilliant 99-run innings in the second innings. However, Ten Doeschate said Pant is fit to play.
“Everyone is really well. There wasn’t too much bowling in the first Test. The fast bowlers are all good. Rishabh is pretty good. He was having a little bit of discomfort the other day with the movement of his knee, but fingers crossed, he’ll be good to keep in the Test (in Pune),” Ten Doechate said
The Return Of Shubman Gill
He also confirmed that Shubman Gill is fit and can return to the side.
“He looks so. He has batted well in Bengaluru and has had a few hits. He had some discomfort but he looks good to go,” he added.
India will be playing their second Test against New Zealand on October 24. While the New Zealand team will look forward to continue the momentum, team India will be eyeing a comeback and forget the hurting defeat in 1st Test.
