TOOTA HAI INDIA KA GHAMAND!!

 What a shameful series loss against New Zealand, few days back I wrote about the worst touring team currently (Read Here), and we lost against them. What's going wrong? Is there any changes required in the third test? Many questions to answer but before that click that follow button.

Yes, both matches didn't go as expected but moving on is important as we can still play the WTC Final by winning 4 of the 6 tests remaining. Winning a test series in India is a great achievement for this mediocre team. India lost a test series on Indian soil after 12 years, now Aussies are the best test side in the world. We can still beat them in their own backyard, India hasn't lost BGT since last 10 years. Dominating Aussies for such a long period of time is not an easy task for sure. But before that we should make sure that we don't lose the third test or else it will be completely shameful for us. 

Do we require to make any changes for the third test? I don't think so, we don't need to panic atleast not yet. Just rest Bumrah; a long test series awaits him and we want him to play all the 5 matches of the BGT, especially when Shami is unavailable. Play Siraj in place of Boom, that's it no other changes required. The reason is even if we lose this match this is our core team playing in Australia let them gain some confidence. No one is responsible for the lost except the coaching the staff, the coaching staff was just overhyped and I had said earlier it's just too much of hype, especially for Morne Morkel. Every player except Washi played not at their best, hoping a strong comeback in the third test. 

THE SQUAD FOR BGT

India has announced a big 18 members squad for the BGT including many news names and inclusion in the team.

1) Rohit Sharma (C)

2) Jasprit Bumrah (VC)

3) Virat Kohli

4) Yashasvi Jaiswal

5) Shubhman Gill 

6) Abhimanyu Easwaran

7) KL Rahul

8) Rishabh Pant (WK)

9) Dhruv Jurel (WK)

10) Sarfaraz Khan

11) Nitish Kumar Reddy

12) Ravindra Jadeja 

13) Ravichandran Ashwin

14) Washington Sundar

15) Akashdeep Singh

16) Mohammed Siraj

17) Prasidh Krishna

18) Harshit Rana

Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.

Probable/Balance Playing 11:

1) Rohit Sharma 

2) Yashasvi Jaiswal

3) Shubhman Gill

4) Virat Kohli

5) Rishabh Pant

6) Nitish Kumar Reddy

7) Ravindra Jadeja 

8) Washington Sundar

9) Jasprit Bumrah 

10) Mohammed Siraj

11) Akash Deep

I want this team to play, as it gives you an extra bowling option without compromising the batting. Sharma is not sure if he plays the first test, if he misses out then Abhimanyu should open. This team will give you 4 pace bowling option (including Nitish), 2 spin bowling and batting till No. 8. Washi will surely start in the playing 11. Playing Nitish ahead of Rahul and Sarfaraz gives you an extra bowling option, Nitish bowls pretty well. We are surely gonna miss Shami, hope he joins the team in the later half of the series. Many players will get chance in the playing 11 as it is a 5 match series. Siraj should take the responsibility in the absence of Shami, interesting to see what Akash Deep brings to the table. Harshit Rana has been included in the third test squad now let's see if he get's the chance, but why he is been considered in the team before Mukesh, Khaleel, Navdeep and Prasidh. If Gambhir is trying to give him chances then it's definitely a point of concern, this is purely partial on other bowlers.

I think we should have considered Shardul, but I think he was having some issue during the Irani Cup. The main man Pujara was already out of the team for a while, so no reason to consider him now, in fact Easwaran is a good option. Some of the Ruturaj supporters were criticizing Easwaran, but he deserves his place in the squad and I have no doubt in it. A good series for Nitish to prove his worth for the team by contributing through both balling and batting. A lot of hope on Washi as he is in great form and also has the experience to play in the Australian conditions. 

My predictions going into the 5 match test series is 2-2 and India retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy once again. This might not fix our place in the WTC Finals but still we can be in the contention. The first test is in Perth, the pitch is hard and you got that bounce and all. Play Rahul, Sarfaraz or an extra pacer in the first test in place of Jaddu. If we manage to draw or win the first test we are most likely to retain the cup. The second test is in Adelaide, and most importantly a pink ball test. Australia's record in pink ball tests are phenomenal. Last time we got 36 all out at the same venue. Bring back Jaddu or Ashwin (based on our batting performance in the first test) in the second test. I think playing Ashwin will be lot more helpful. I am considering we will lose this test

The third test is at Gabba, can India breach Gabba again? The pitch is similar to the Perth at Gabba just a lot more harder. Same team as the first match by benching Ashwin or Jaddu. Yes, I am still playing with Washi in the 11. We should have a win and a draw in the First and the Third test, so the scoreline becomes 1-1. The fourth test in Melbourne and fifth in Sydney, I am expecting to win both of them. We have beat them at these venues quite comfortably before. Last time we had a draw at Sydney. So as per these predictions about the pitch and conditions, I expect India to win atleast 2 matches in Australia.

Thank you for reading! I will stay consistent now, covering every day of the Third test match and also stay tuned for the upcoming IPL blog. Make sure to follow my blog page.

THANK YOU,
ADVAIT KADAM
(Sports Management Student)