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Speculations are rife about the changes in India’s XI for the ongoing Boxing Day Test for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
As teams preparing for the crucial fourth test in melbourne, the indian cricket team faces a significant dilemma over its line-up selection, especially due to ravichandran ashwin’s unexpected retirement from international cricket after the drawn gabba test.
With the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 tied at 1-1, changes to the Indian XI are definitely on the horizon and there is even talk that young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could be dropped from the squad to bring back second spin the all-rounder Washington Sundar.
Sunil Gavaskar is backing Nitish Kumar Reddy to retain his place for the Boxing Day Test
Media reports claimed that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar would play in the Boxing Day Test; so Nitish Kumar Reddy will have to make room for the Tamil Nadu star, but legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that it will be a big mistake if the team management accepts this call.
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The former Indian captain strongly believes that Nitish Kumar Reddy should be in India’s playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Gavaskar believes that Reddy, as the fourth player, is crucial to the balance of the Indian cricket team and cannot be dropped from the playing XI.
The legendary Indian batsman also stressed that India cannot afford to go into a must-win Test match from the ongoing five-match Test series with just two pacers, predicting that the Gabba Test line-up should remain unchanged for the Melbourne encounter.
Can’t drop Nitish Kumar Reddy: Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports ahead of the fourth Test the MCG, “I can’t drop Nitish Kumar Reddy. He is the fourth seamstress. I can’t imagine India going in with just two pacers and Nitish. For me, it’s mostly this XI that plays in Melbourne.”
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar also dismissed the idea of a swap Akash Deep with Harshit Rana for the crucial fourth Test against Australia at the MCG.
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However, Akash Deep’s bowling in Brisbane was not outstanding, with figures of 3/123, but his 31 runs from 44 balls at No.11 was crucial in helping India avoid the follow-on and draw against Australia in the third Test. at The Gabba.
Harshit Rana unlikely to replace Akash Deep: Sunil Gavaskar
The legendary batsman feels that Harshit Rana is unlikely to replace Akash Deep, especially after the pacer played a key role down the stretch. He reckoned that dropping Akash wouldn’t make sense. Gavaskar signed off saying, “Harshit is unlikely to replace Akash Deep. Why would you reject the man who saved your team from the Inheritance?”
Apart from this, the Indian team is also considering changes in the main order for the upcoming Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Rohit Sharma could return to the opener and KL Rahul could move to No.3, with Shubman Gill facing the bat, who has struggled with the bat Down Under.
