India's lineup for the New Year's Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) could see a shake-up as they gear up for a do-or-die battle to salvage the ongoing five-match Test series and retain the prestigious boundary. Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia.
With the pressure mounting, there are said to be two changes on the horizon for the starting lineup. Akash Deep and Rishabh Pant are two players set to lose their places in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney.
Rishabh Pant and Akash Deb are set to miss the must-win SCG Test in India
After Australia thrashed India by 184 runs in the Boxing Day Test to take a 2-1 lead in the ongoing Test series, all eyes are on the Indian cricket team management's bold calls to reignite their campaign and rescue the proud Down Under side, having won again. back the BGT titles in their final outings.
Well, ahead of the New Year's Test at the SCG, Indian coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that pacer Akash Deb has been ruled out of the Sydney Test against Australia due to injury. Akash Deb suffered a back injury, ruling him out of the New Year's Test at the SCG.
“Akashdeep is out,” Gautam Gambhir said at the press conference in Sydney. “He has an injury.”
After the latest development, the Indian cricket team is expected to field four seamers against Australia in the final Test in Sydney, with Jasprit Bumrah in mind. Harshit Rana is likely to step in for the injured Akash, while a tough encounter could see Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja make way for Prasidh Krishna in India's XI to face SCG.
Rishabh Pant is likely to be dropped as Dhruv Jurel gears up for the New Year's Test
Meanwhile, the Indian Express report states that India coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma are in deep discussions about Rishabh Pant's place in the playing XI. Pant's dismissal in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG sparked widespread criticism, including Sunil Gavaskar's viral “stupid, stupid, stupid” shout during commentary.
With pressure mounting, the team management is likely to force Rishabh Pant not to participate in the New Year's Test against Australia. If the news is true, Dhruv Gurriel is likely to get a chance to prove himself in Sydney, as Pant will almost certainly be dropped for the final Test at the SCG.
Dhruv Gurriel has so far only featured in the first Test match of Australia's tour in Perth, where he scored 11 and 1. Talking about Rishabh Pant, the Indian team and fans were hoping for a turnaround from the left-handed batsman during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.
Rishabh Pant struggles to deliver Down Under
Pant, known for his memorable heroics on the 2020/21 tour of Australia, was expected to be the game-changer this time around as well, but the wicket-keeper-batsman has had a disappointing career so far, scoring just 154 runs in seven innings at an average 22 years old, without his name being mentioned for half a century.
