“Yes, we did see it (the pitch), but it’s still too early to really know what the pitch is going to do. We need to come here on the day of the match to know how it’s really going to play,” Rahul told mediapersons in Nagpur on Tuesday.
“We can only look at it and assume it’s going to play a certain way, but you never know with pitches. Yes, there is the temptation to play three spinners because we’re playing in India. We’ll take that call on the day of the game or the day before the game,” the trendy right-hander added.
There is a whole lot of debate occurring as to who will open the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma and who will bat within the middle-order. Will it’s Rahul or in-form Shubman Gill? But the second in command did not have any clear reply about it.
When requested if Shubman Gill will bat within the middle-order, Rahul mentioned: “We still haven’t decided on the final XI. It’s going to be a tough decision to make. There are guys who have performed exceedingly well and there are a few spots open so there are a few discussions going on and the players are being spoken to.”
With skipper Rohit Sharma back in the mix, Rahul was asked if he would like to bat in the middle-order where he had started his Test career back in 2014.
“If it arises, then I’m more than happy to do that. Whatever little cricket I’ve played for the country, I’ve always done that.
“Whatever the team has asked me to do, I try and prepare that way and try and do my best for the team, and if that is something that the team wants me to do here, I’ll be more than happy to do it,” Rahul mentioned, though it’s unlikely that he would come down the order.
So does he discover it distinctive that there isn’t any simple selection for selecting the enjoying eleven this time round?
“I don’t know if it has happened before but, yes, this time it is going to be tough. Tough decision to select an eleven. All the 15 guys in the side are top quality, and that’s why they’re here. Anyone of them on any given day can be a match winner…
“The playing XI, we always try and make a decision based on what’s best for the team and for that particular Test match. We have done that over the last two years,” that was his response to a PTI query.
Rahul didn’t forget to remind the media that he is still pretty sour about the backlash that he got for dropping Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against Bangladesh after his match-winning performance in the series opener.
“There have been questions about why a certain player has played… even in Bangladesh, I remember, Kuldeep (Yadav) got the man of the match and did not play the next Test.
“Obviously, the only reason, or the only thinking, behind such decisions is which player fits the role for that particular condition.
“You said, I have played for 10 years, but even if I have played for 20-30 years, and even after retirement, there is nobody who can look at the pitch and say accurately that ‘this is how it is going to play’.
“It’s really based on some experience and a little bit of history of that place. Even in this series, that’s something we will continue to do,” he mentioned.
Whether it’s Suryakumar Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav, whoever will get dropped must take that on chin.
“Everyone is very clear about why they’re playing, why they aren’t playing, their roles in the team. That’s a good thing, and the atmosphere in the team is very good.”
‘Reverse swing will play an enormous position’
Rahul feels with the standard within the Australian bowling line-up, reverse swing within the dry and abrasive circumstances can play an enormous position.
“It always plays a huge role in India. We have seen that historically as well. Any team that has quality fast bowlers who can exploit reverse swing will be dangerous on pitches like these. That’s something that we have tried to prepare for over the last week, 10 days.
“We all know the Australian team has always produced high-quality fast bowlers, and we know the threat they can pose. That’s the beauty of playing against Australia, that’s what excites you and something we are kicked about.” With David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw within the combine, the southpaw heavy Aussie line-up could have given a bonus to the house crew.
“I feel it’s going to assist our bowlers a bit bit. If there are two left-handers collectively, and left-handers are coming in to bat, back-to-back, that may solely imply that the bowlers get time to settle right into a sure line and size.
“That is also a really distinctive factor. I do not suppose some other crew has that many left-handers…”
(With inputs from PTI)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com