The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy is here and the first match will be taking place from Thursday in Nagpur. Both teams have geared up to challenge each other. A lot is going on about India’s batting order as they have plenty of options. It will be interesting to see who will make it to India’s playing XI.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri wants Suryakumar Yadav to be there in the playing XI.
"Tough choice. You have to pick the best player for that position (No. 5). Surya is one player who will be proactive and looking to rotate the strike," Shastri said.
"If you want to do well in India, you have got to rotate the strike and not let bowlers bowl maidens at you. Blocking won't help. A quick 30 or 40 could decide the fate of game. He (Surya) can get (the runs) quickly and disrupt the opposition. India should back themselves to win by two-match margin," Shastri stated.
Former BCCI selector Sunil Joshi also backed Suryakumar and wants him in his playing XI in place of the veteran Cheteshwar Pujara.
"Will India line up like this in the first test? Deliberation between Pujara & Surya,a tough draw between both lefties Kuldeep &Axar. Here's my XI: R Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Surya (should get first look in ), V Kohli, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Kuldeep Y, M Shami, M Siraj," Sunil Joshi tweeted.
Former India speedster Dodda Ganesh was surprised by Joshi’s choice and he responded without mentioning his name.
"One of the ex-selectors wants Surya to be chosen ahead of Pujara for tests. Let that sink in. I mean, the audacity to even think that one can replace Pujara with someone who's yet to play a Test, boggles my mind. No wonder poor Pujara has been a scapegoat all his life #BGT2023," Dodda Ganesh tweeted.