Hosts India dominated Australia in the first two Tests of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning both the Tests within the first three days to take a 2–0 lead. Rohit Sharma and Co. pulled off a stunning victory in the first Test, defeating Australia by an innings and 132 runs. They continued their dominance at home in the second Test as well, defeating Australia by 6 wickets in Delhi.
However, the Indian team management was forced to drop KL Rahul from the India XI for the India vs Australia 3rd Test in Indore, naming talented youngster Shubman Gill in his place. It was another big blow for Rahul after he was dropped as India’s Test vice-captain after a prolonged period of underperformance in the format. The star middle-order batsman scored just 38 runs in three innings while opening the batting for India in the first two Tests.
Meanwhile, former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has given a big statement on KL Rahul. He said that he was very happy that Rahul was not playing in the Indore Test as it was difficult for any batsman to score runs on such a pitch.
“First and foremost, I am happy for KL Rahul. Thankfully, it is good that he did not play. Had he played on these wickets and failed to get going in the next two Tests, and his career could have been over. .. Thank God, he didn’t play. Frankly,” he said, speaking on his YouTube channel Cheeki Cheeka.
Sharing his opinion about the Indore pitch, Srikkanth pointed out how the track took a dangerous turn as all the Indian batsmen except Cheteshwar Pujara failed to score runs in India’s second innings.
“On these pitches, it is very difficult to bat. Whoever it is, it is difficult to bat. Whoever it is, Virat Kohli, nobody can score runs on these pitches. If you look at it, Kuhnman, the bowling in the first innings Ripped the ball and turned it square.
He said, “Taking wickets on these wickets is not a big deal. Even if I had bowled, I would have taken wickets. These are all difficult things, we have to accept them.”
