India are currently playing the second Test match against New Zealand where skipper Rohit Sharma announced three changes in the squad from the first Test match where KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav missed their spot in the playing XI and Shubman Gill, Akash Deep and Washington Sundar comes in for the Pune Test. India are asked to bowl first at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Soon after KL Rahul's absence from India's playing XI, fans started slamming India's head coach and management for their decision. Here are a few reactions.
Earlier, India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed underperforming KL Rahul saying that social media opinions wouldn't sway the team's choices. He also commended Rahul for his composed innings of 68 runs off 43 balls against Bangladesh in the second Test held in Kanpur.
"Social media doesn't matter one bit. You don't pick players based on social media, even what the experts are saying or think. It is important to what team management thinks and what the leadership group. International cricket is all about being judged. He has had a decent knock in Kanpur in difficult conditions. Yes, he wants to score big runs, and that is why he is being backed by the team management," Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
India vs New Zealand playing XIs
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke
