‘Damad ko firse rakh liya’- India makes bold selection moves ahead of crucial 3rd & 4th Tests and ODI series against Australia

Despite a drought of runs over the last few months, star India opener KL Rahul is struggling in the longest format of the game since the Bangladesh series. He scored only 10 and 2 runs in the two Test matches and scored only 20 runs in the first Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but still, he has been backed by the skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid for the last two Tests.

The Indian Cricket Board announced the squad for the remaining two Border-Gavaskar Tests and ODI series against Australia. The Test squad for the last two matches is as same as the first two Tests which were announced by All-India Senior Selection Committee.

Jaydev Unadkat return to ODI squad after 10 years

Saurastras skipper Jaydev Unadkat who has won the 2022/23 Ranji title which is second one in the last three years on Sunday, February 19,  has made a comeback to the ODI team after a long gap of 10 years. He was permitted to leave after clinching the title in Kolkata, which happened coincidently with the Delhi Test, and has now been named back to the squad. Unadkat was also included in the 18-person team for the three ODIs against Australia.

According to the Indian Cricket Board, the Men in Blue skipper, Rohit Sharma would miss the first ODI on March 17 in Mumbai. For the first ODI, Hardik Pandya will serve as the team’s captain in his absence. Ravindra Jadeja has also been shortlisted for the ODI series. He made an impressive comeback into the India Test squad after suffering a shoulder injury and picked up 17 wickets in the first two Tests of the ongoing BGT Test seies against the Kangaroos.

India squad for 3rd & 4th Test vs Australia: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, S Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, R Jadeja, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

India ODI squad: S Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), R Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, W Sundar, Y Chahal, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat

Here’s how fans reacted on the announcements of both the squads:

Unadkat 🤯

— 𝐒𝐚𝐢 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐤  (@SaiNaik26) February 19, 2023

It's time for Sanju Samson to shift to England to play along with his friend Jos. Sanju Samson bashing India will be a treat to watch#SanjuSamsonToEngland

— Simran_HateMayra (@Simran_hatMayra) February 19, 2023

Patidar should have been given chance to prove himself. Sky is just a t20 beast.

— P R A T I K. (@pratik_1609) February 19, 2023

The obsession with Chahal is just unexplainable

— orGAYnick (@orgaynik) February 19, 2023

Sanju samson far better odi player than ishan Krishan no blind slogging and knows strike rotation so should have been 2nd wk

— VK18 🐐 (@ParamSh10733348) February 19, 2023

मेरे ख्याल से इस टीम में वाइस कैप्टन अश्विन या जडेजा में से किसी एक को होना चाहिए। 🤔

केएल राहुल वाइस कैप्टन के काबिल नहीं हैं…💯

— Saurav Chaudhary (@SauravC76848963) February 19, 2023

KL Rahul ke aage se VC ht gya 😂

— Divyanshu Shrimali (@DivyanshuShrim1) February 19, 2023

Same team

— sai avinash DHFM Viratain (@avinashsai10) February 19, 2023

Rahul favouring Rahul

— CricCrazy 🇵🇰 (@CricCrazy__) February 19, 2023

Damad ko firse rakh liya?

— Professor Calculus (@techieinequity) February 19, 2023