IND vs BAN: Gambhir backs Rahul, Pant for opening test as India gears up for Bangladesh
Xtra Time Web Desk: India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that experienced players KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will feature in the first Test against Bangladesh, prioritizing their inclusion over younger talents Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel. Gambhir emphasized that the decision was based on experience and form, especially as both Rahul and Pant return to the Test side after time away from the format.
India will begin their Test season with a series against Bangladesh, kicking off on Thursday in Chennai. This marks the start of an extended test season of 10 Test matches, which will culminate in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Bangladesh, fresh off their 2-0 sweep against Pakistan, will be eager to challenge the hosts.
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Addressing the media, Gambhir praised Sarfaraz and Jurel but highlighted the importance of choosing players that fit the current team setup. "We don’t drop anyone. We just pick the players who fit the XI. Jurel is phenomenal, but when Pant is back, sometimes others have to wait. Same with Sarfaraz," said Gambhir.
Dhruv Jurel, who had a stellar Test debut earlier this year, will miss out as Pant returns from injuries sustained in a car accident in late 2022. Pant last played a Test in December of that year.
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With Rohit Sharma opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli will likely slot in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Gambhir's choice to back KL Rahul at No. 5, over Sarfaraz, reflects the importance of experience in the upcoming series and also going forward in the series down under.
