Sunil Gavaskar has urged India to not drop Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Boxing Day Test. (AP)
Despite the series locked at 1-1 after a rain-marred Gabba Test ended in a draw, India are likely to ring in a horde of changes for the fourth Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India’s record at the iconic Australian ground has been commanding over the last decade, having gone unbeaten in three editions of the BGT since 2014, with a draw and two wins in their last two appearances in 2018 and 2020. However, things have taken a remarkable turn since and within the break from the last Test which saw the retirement of spin legend, R Ashwin. Rookie off-spinner Tanush Kotian has since been drafted into the squad while Australia are backing teenager Sam Konstas to make his debut at the top of the order, with Scott Boland replacing seamer Josh Hazlewood.
However, emerging reports have stated that India could enforce a top-order overhaul with the excessive Melbourne heat also forcing their hand at trying two spinners for the fourth Test. Reports have also hinted at captain Rohit Sharma returning to the opening slot after playing two Tests at No. 6 without success. That would mean in-form opener KL Rahul will slide down to No. 3, forcing batter Shubman Gill into the brink of exclusion for the MCG Test. Gill’s overseas record has been underwhelming, having gone over three years without a Test fifty outside Asia. With Washington Sundar likely to pair up with Ravindra Jadeja as the second spinner, the axe could also fall on seam all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy ove Gill, despite an impressive series thus far.
‘Nitish to stay’
India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has, however, warned the visitors against such a strand of thought, wherein they would enter the Melbourne Test without Nitish, who lends immense balance to the bowling attack.
“They can’t drop Nitish Kumar Reddy. He is the fourth seamer. I can’t see India going in with just two pacers and Nitish. For me, it is pretty much this XI that plays in MCG,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Gavaskar also backed Akash Deep to continue in his role as the third pacer behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. “Unlikely that Harshit will replace Akash Deep. Why would you drop a man who has saved your team from follow-on?” asked Gavaskar.
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