New Delhi. Use the sword… When Rohit Sharma met the journalists after the Indian team was out for 46 runs, these were his first two words. These words were considered an example of Rohit’s confidence, over-confidence and to some extent his answer to the difficult questions he received from the journalists. These two words of Rohit will continue to be reviewed but in the same match, Sarfaraz Khan has played such an innings, after which it is believed that he handed over the sword to his captain by saying ‘Chalao Talwar’ in his own style. .
Despite playing well consistently, Sarfaraz Khan got a late opportunity in Team India. Even when he got a chance, he was dropped from the team again and again. Now, by playing an inning of 150 runs in moments of extreme pressure in the Bengaluru Test, Sarfaraz Khan has put such pressure on captain Rohit Sharma for his selection that it will not be easy to get out. This innings is being seen as Sarfaraz’s answer to the Indian team management and selectors.
New Zealand has defeated India by 8 wickets in the first test match played in Bengaluru. With this defeat, India has not only lagged behind in the Test series, but it is also a blow to its defeat in the WUTC final. Now the tension of Indian captain Rohit Sharma is going to increase.
The next test match of the series between India and New Zealand is to be played in Pune from 24th October. When Rohit Sharma will choose the playing eleven for this match, he will be faced with the big question of keeping Sarfaraz Khan in the team or dropping him. Sarfaraz got a chance in the Bengaluru Test due to injury to Shubman Gill.
If Sarfaraz remains in the playing eleven of Pune Test, it will mean that either Shubman Gill will sit out or KL Rahul will be dropped. Gill had scored a century in his last test match. If he is kept out then it will not be considered a right decision for Team India in the long term. By doing this, once again Virat Kohli will be made to bat at number three. It would be considered a ‘crime’ to repeatedly tamper with the batting order of one’s biggest batsman.
In such a situation, there is a greater possibility of KL Rahul being dropped from Team India. KL Rahul is seen as a ‘must-have batsman’ for foreign tours. India’s next tour is to Australia. In such a situation, dropping KL Rahul from the playing eleven would be like reducing his confidence.
If Shubman Gill returns and KL Rahul remains in the team, it will mean that Sarfaraz has no place in the playing eleven. By playing an inning of 150 runs, Sarfaraz has in a way handed the sword into the hands of Rohit Sharma. As if they are saying- now use the sword.
Tags: india vs new zealand, Rohit Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Team india
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 20, 2024, 12:36 IST