3 Indian Players Who Could Be Benched For The 2nd Test vs New Zealand When Virat Kohli Arrives

India are currently playing the first of the two-match Test series against New Zealand in Kanpur. The Men in Blue are in a pretty good position at the moment.

New Zealand are 4 for 1 at Stump’s on day 4. India needs 9 wickets on the final day to win the game, while New Zealand need 280 runs. Given the fact that spinners are likely to get more purchases from the surface on the final day, one expects India to win the match.

India played the first Test without their regular skipper Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper, however, is all set to make his comeback in the second Test after taking much-needed rest.

In the absence of Virat Kohli, the management handed the Test cap to Shreyas Iyer. The 26-year old made full use of the opportunity and aggregated 170 runs in his maiden Test. He scored a sensational century in his first innings, followed by another valuable 75-run knock in the second.

Shreyas Iyer’s performance has now given a selection headache to the management for the second Test. Who will make way for Virat Kohli in the second Test? On that note, we take a look at three Indian players who could be benched for the second Test vs New Zealand when Virat Kohli arrives.

3 Indian Players Who Could Be Benched For The 2nd Test vs New Zealand When Virat Kohli Arrives

1. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has received a lot of backing from the team management despite his struggles with the bat in the last couple of years. His performances with the bat in Test Cricket don’t inspire too much confidence. He averages in the low 20s this year. He looked miserable with the bat on India’s tour to England earlier. In 4 matches, he managed to score only 109 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 15.57.

Rahane, who is currently captaining in the ongoing Test, scored 35 (63) and 13 (28). The management has already given him a lot of opportunities. However, it looks like he might get dropped in the next match, and perhaps his career might come to an end with that.

2. Mayank Agarwal

The absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul helped Mayank Agarwal make his comeback into the Indian Test team after 10 months. However, he couldn’t make notable contributions with the bat, having recorded scores of 13(28) and 17(54).

With Virat Kohli set to make his way into the playing XI, Mayank Agarwal might have to sacrifice his place in the next game. Having played only one Test after a gap of 10 months, it won’t be a wise decision to exclude him from the eleven, however.

3. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has made a terrific start to his Test career. He became the 16^th Indian batsman to record a century in his debut Test. He followed it with a valuable half-century in the second innings. However, despite showing outstanding performances, he might have to warm the benches in the next game.

If the team management decides to back Ajinkya Rahane for the second test and also persist with Mayank Agarwal for the opening slot, then, unfortunately, Shreyas Iyer will have to make way for Virat Kohli in the next game.

It is going to be an extremely difficult call for the management to decide who should make way for Virat. It will be interesting to see who sits out in the final Test against New Zealand.