Fri Dec 06 16:42:22 UTC 2024: ## India Faces Pleasant Selection Headache Ahead of Adelaide Test
**Adelaide, Australia** – India’s cricket team faces a welcome dilemma ahead of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. The return of captain Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill, both absent from the Perth victory, has created a selection headache for coach Rahul Dravid. This comes after impressive performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in the first Test.
Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri, speaking on the ICC Review, weighed in on the situation. While acknowledging the strong performances in Perth, Shastri emphasized the need for Rohit Sharma’s experience. He suggested that slotting Rohit into the middle order at five or six could be a viable option, leveraging the captain’s ability to adapt to various batting positions. Shastri believes that the team should maintain the opening partnership of KL Rahul and Jaiswal, given their success in Perth.
The return of Gill further strengthens India’s batting lineup, according to Shastri, creating one of the strongest Indian batting units in Australia in the last 15 years. He advocates for maintaining the successful bowling attack from the first Test, while suggesting the inclusion of Akash Deep as a 12th man, given the potential challenges of the pink ball in Adelaide. Shastri believes Deep’s skills could prove valuable depending on the pitch conditions. The final decision on the team composition will likely depend on a thorough assessment of the Adelaide pitch conditions.
First Piper 