NEW DELHI: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his disappointment over Kuldeep Yadav‘s exclusion from the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Gavaskar criticized the move and suggested it indicated “panic” from the team management.
India entered the second Test trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, making three changes to their lineup. New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat first at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
India dropped Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and KL Rahul. Shubman Gill returned to the side, Akash Deep replaced Siraj, and Washington Sundar was included for his first Test match since March 2021.
Scorecard – India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test
Rohit Sharma‘s team faces a must-win situation to maintain their 12-year unbeaten home record and keep hopes alive for a third consecutive ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance. A loss could jeopardize their path to the WTC final, especially with an upcoming series against Australia.
During the match, Gavaskar commented on the team changes.
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“I do not see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar’s inclusion tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion,” he said.
Gavaskar questioned the decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav, noting his potential effectiveness against New Zealand’s left-handed batters. “Yes, there is a lot of talk about the left-handers in the New Zealand batting unit, but I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav, who can also turn it away from a left-hander,” he added.
With pressure on India to secure a win in Pune, Gavaskar’s comments highlight the critical nature of team selection decisions as they aim to preserve their home dominance and secure a spot in the WTC final.
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