India legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar questioned Rohit Sharma-led side for making three changes in India's playing XI for the second Test match against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The Men in Blue benched KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav. Washington Sundar, Akash Deep and Shubman Gill came into the XI for the second Test.
Shubman Gill makes his comeback to the playing eleven after missing the first Test due to neck stiffness. Akash Deep took Siraj's place while Washington Sundar took Kuldeep's spot for his first Test appearance since March 2021.
Speaking on air during the match, Gavaskar said that the move to add Sundar to boost up the batting was a move based on panic.
"I do not see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar inclusion which tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion. 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," Gavaskar said.
This Test match is a must-win game for India as the Rohit Sharma-led side lost the first match by eight-wicket after getting bundled out on just 46 runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke.
