Things went horribly wrong for Team India on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand as they were skittled out for a humiliating 46. Apart from Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, no one was able to score in double digits and things came apart at the seams for Rohit Sharma and company.
To make matters worse, India had five ducks in the playing XI, an unwanted feat that Gautam Gambhir would be hoping to leave behind when they take the yard for the next innings.
Winning the toss, India opted to bat first, a decision which left everyone quizzed, particularly with the surface being a damp one and with ample assistance for the seamers. However, with all of that being said, here are two changes that India must make to their batting order after their debacle in the first innings of the first Test.
#1 KL Rahul in at number four instead of Sarfaraz Khan
It was a bizarre decision to send Sarfaraz Khan at number four, especially with the ball moving around vehemently. Khan’s tendency to play away from the ball, hoping to make some room for himself ended in a cataclysm.
KL Rahul got out for a duck as well but his preceding reputation of dealing with swing and also to adapt to the situation instead of always going hard would serve India better.
#2 Shubman Gill at number three (if he is fit and available)
Gill complained of a stiff neck which ruled him out of the first Test. The absence of Gill was palpable as India’s desperation in finding an anchor never really proved to be successful. Gill’s wide range of strokes make him better suited to the kind of lateral movement that the Kiwi bowlers can generate.
More importantly, Shubman Gill plays the new ball exceptionally well but he also manages the transition from the new ball to the semi-new and possibly a worn-out cherry makes him a standout pick.
