India vs Australia: Selection issues bog down India ahead of Boxing Day Test

MELBOURNE: Halfway into the tour, the Indian team management continues to be in a dilemma over selection issues despite having 19 players on their roster – the largest in recent times.

According to coach Ravi Shastri, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin – who missed the second Test in Perth due to injuries – are on the mend with the former better placed to be fit for the Boxing Day Test here.
“We will evaluate Ashwin over the next 48 hours, Rohit looks good and has made good improvement but we will see how he pulls up tomorrow,” was how Shastri summed it up.

However, going by the Indian team’s first practice session here on Sunday, Rohit looked tentative while jogging around the MCG as well as while batting in the nets. It is possible that the premier batsman, who is recovering from lower back spasms, was simply being cautious.

Ashwin, on the other hand, looked in no apparent discomfort while turning his arm over in the nets under the watchful eyes of trainer Shankar Basu. The off-spinner did not bowl to batsmen, though, and neither did he bat.
Young Mayank Agarwal, had a hit in the nets and found Mohammad Shami a handful. The opener spent some time with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, discussing technical issues before going back to one of the side nets to put into practice the tips he received.

Unless Shastri was playing mind games to keep the Aussies guessing, the chances of Mayank making his Test debut here doesn’t look too bright. “He is a good, young player and has got loads of runs for India ‘A’. When you look at his domestic record, his performances are as good as anyone. So that’s a call we will have to take,” said Shastri, who admitted that regular openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul were struggling but expected them to bounce back.
“It is a big concern. Responsibility and accountability have to be taken by the top order. They have the experience and exposure to get out there and deliver,” Shastri said.

The Indian coach also hedged his bet on Hardik Pandya. Despite declaring that the all-rounder was fit, Shastri chose to keep everyone guessing over Pandya’s spot in the team.

“It (Pandya’s inclusion) gives you an extra option but he has played just one first-class match after recovering from injury, so we have to be very careful before we decide whether he plays or not,” said Shastri, who kept a close eye on the all-rounder who bowled impressively in the nets.
Shastri maintained that selection issues will be addressed only after fitness levels of players are evaluated over the next 24 hours. “We will take one step at a time. The conditions will also have to be factored in,” he added.

Asked whether he fancied India’s chances of clinching a series overseas after winning a Test each in South Africa, England, and now in Australia, Shastri said: “We are hoping to be third time lucky. Very rarely have we been in a position where we are 1-1 in an overseas series with two matches to play. So the boys know what they can do,” said Shastri, who refused to accept that the Indian team’s morale had taken a hit after losing in Perth. “We are 1-1 in a series in Australia and we knew we had our chances in Perth as well, so we are ready,” Shastri added.

Asked whether Virat Kohli was under pressure for his verbal duels with his Australian counterpart Tim Paine, Shastri dismissed such reports, claiming the Indian captain’s behaviour has been ‘fantastic’. “What is wrong with his (Kohli’s) behaviour? Of course, you can question, but as far as we are concerned he is an absolute gentleman.”
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