'When Virat Kohli, And KL Rahul Return...' - Pragyan Ojha Feels These Batters Will Be Dropped From Test Team
Updated - 06 Feb 2024, 02:31 PM
Former spinner Pragyan Ojha feels that Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar might be omitted from India’s lineup for the third Test. Pragyan Ojha advised Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar to focus on domestic cricket to strengthen their case for selection in the Indian team.
Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests citing personal reasons, while KL Rahul was absent from the second game due to a right quadriceps injury. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is set to announce the squad for the upcoming matches in the coming days.
Shreyas Iyer Was Left Slightly Behind – Pragyan Ojha
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Pragyan Ojha stated that Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar might be dropped if Virat Kohli and KL Rahul return for the third Test match. He emphasized the limited opportunities for Iyer and Patidar in such a scenario.
“Shreyas Iyer was left slightly behind. When you talk about great batters like Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul has also scored runs, when they return, they will automatically be part of the XI. So probably Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar will have to make way because the situation is like that,” Ojha said.
“It’s not that you don’t want to give opportunities but when great batters are coming and you don’t have that much room, you cannot give them the cushion. So go back and score runs in domestic cricket,” he added.
Shreyas Iyer managed 56 runs in total during the Visakhapatnam Test. Notably, Iyer scored 48 runs during the series opener in Hyderabad. Rajat Patidar, who made his debut, added 41 runs across both innings but was dismissed by Rehan Ahmed on both occasions.
KL Rahul batted in the number 4 position in the first Test, where India suffered a loss by 28 runs. The right-handed batter scored 86 runs as India posted 436 runs in the first innings. He added 22 runs while chasing a target of 231 runs in the final innings of the match.
Shubman Gill Grasped His Chance – Pragyan Ojha
Pragyan Ojha praised Shubman Gill’s excellent batting performance and his ability to handle pressure effectively. He emphasized Gill’s mental resilience in overcoming challenges and suggested that such experiences would positively influence his character.
“Fantastic batting by Shubman Gill. He grasped his chance. I will repeatedly talk about the way he handled pressure. Everyone knows that he has a lot of talent. When you play for your country, you have something special,” Ojha further said.
“However, if you are repeatedly questioned in different ways and things are not going in your favor, your mentality takes you forward. That was a standout thing seen in him. I feel this will change his character because he will now know what needs to be done when he gets into a similar situation,” he concluded.
In India’s second innings, Shubman Gill demonstrated his prowess by scoring a century, significantly contributing to the team’s lead of 398 runs. The 24-year-old batter scored 104 runs off 147 deliveries, marking his first half-century in his last 13 Test innings.
The third Test between India and England is scheduled to take place at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from February 15 to 19.
Tagged:
IND vs ENG 2024 India National Cricket Team KL Rahul Rajat Patidar Shreyas Iyer Shubman Gill Virat Kohli
