In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, Team India made bold changes. Ravindra Jadeja was benched, with Washington Sundar chosen as the sole spinner on Perth’s pacer-friendly pitch. Debutants Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana brought added excitement. Find out why Ravindra Jadeja is missing from today’s Test match against Australia.
Ravindra Jadeja Benched: A Tactical Call
India’s decision to bench Ravindra Jadeja for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia raised many eyebrows.
However the inclusion of Washington Sundar as the sole spinner reflected a strategic move.
“We know what to expect, the wicket gets quicker after the first session. We’re pretty confident. For our batters and team (the WACA practice), it was a great experience. We played a Test here in 2018 so we know what to expect,” said Bumrah.
Notably, the team management prioritised Sundar’s recent performances and off-spin against Australia’s left-hand-heavy batting lineup.
Sundar’s recent success in the New Zealand series proved pivotal in this decision.
He picked 16 wickets and provided critical batting stability.
Additionally, his contributions in the iconic Gabba Test during BGT 2020-21 showcased his ability to thrive under pressure.
On the other hand, Jadeja’s left-arm spin seemed less suitable for the current opposition. Perth Pitch is only suitable for 4 pacers.
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Despite his remarkable record, Jadeja’s exclusion signals a focus on adapting to specific match situations.
Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana Make Test Debut in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India handed Test caps to Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first at the Perth Stadium against Australia.
India previously won two Test series in Australia, holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2016-17 season.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Virat Kohli presented the debutants with their maiden Test caps ahead of the game.
India surprised everyone by selecting Washington Sundar as their only spinner, sidelining Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Bumrah stated the wicket becomes quicker after the first session, offering a good challenge for batters.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened, with Devdutt Padikkal at number three replacing injured Shubman Gill.
Gill sustained a left thumb injury during practice; the medical team is monitoring his progress closely.
Regular captain Rohit Sharma will join the team on November 24 after staying back for family reasons.
Australia debuted Nathan McSweeney, who received his Test cap from former player Darren Lehmann before the match.
Playing XIs:
India: Jaiswal, Rahul, Padikkal, Kohli, Pant (wk), Jurel, Sundar, Reddy, Bumrah (c), Rana, Siraj
Australia: McSweeney, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Carey (wk), Cummins (c), Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood
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