2nd Test at the MCG, Melbourne, 26 Dec - 30 Dec 2020

[Daemon]

If that is the case then he can't be played at all.

Vihary deserves support and extended run at 5 or 6. He can't be used to placate Sharna s ego or failings.

This is ok if you genuinely believe Vihari will outscore Rohit or Rahul at 5 or 6

 

[Arachnodouche]

I wouldn't even pick Rohit tbh. You're getting much the same package in Rahul; besides, he's younger and has been in the country for longer.

 

[cnerd123]

This is still the 'India' team, not the 'bat Rohit Sharma wherever he is most likely to score runs' team. You can't build the XI around maximizing his output, other players be damned. We need all our players in positions where they can best perform, or where we want them to perform in the future; There are careers on the line here and we will play more Test matches once this series is done. Picking Rohit in the middle order would be the worst possible selection.

Which probably means Shastri will do it tbh.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Loved the way Gill bats

Aussies made error of bowling to him like they bowled to Shaw or Agarwal. Gill is way much tighter and has a better leg side play.

To look at a cloud among the sliver linings he plays a lot of horizontal strokes. He even played a horizontal cut ala Sehwag today. With a bit of away movement from a short of good length just in the corridor could be a problem.
Aussies can be expected to target this area in coming tests. Gill just has to learn to leave those for his own good

 

[cnerd123]

And if we do pick Rohit to bat middle order, let's go full meme and open with Jadeja and have Lokesh as keeper/bat instead of Pant.

 

[Senile Sentry]

I wouldn't even pick Rohit tbh. You're getting much the same package in Rahul; besides, he's younger and has been in the country for longer.

Yeah this , Rahul is obviously much more fitter as well. Plus God forbid something happens to Pant he can keep as well

I dont know how Rohit should make his way ahead of KL in tests.

 

[Senile Sentry]

This is ok if you genuinely believe Vihari will outscore Rohit or Rahul at 5 or 6

I think Vihary has the game to do this. All he needs is one long innings.

He was excellent in the tour game and got good starts in tests but has failed to capitalise.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Loved the way Gill bats

Aussies made error of bowling to him like they bowled to Shaw or Agarwal. Gill is way much tighter and has a better leg side play.

To look at a cloud among the sliver linings he plays a lot of horizontal strokes. He even played a horizontal cut ala Sehwag today. With a bit of away movement from a short of good length just in the corridor could be a problem.
Aussies can be expected to target this area in coming tests. Gill just has to learn to leave those for his own good

He'll struggle in moving conditions because he doesn't really get his foot to the pitch. Shouldn't be a huge technical change to make because he's immaculately balanced otherwise. Those forward defensives to 145 kph bowlers had me drooling.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Its just staggering to see the belief people put in Sharma. Already a tried and tested failure overseas. Most unfit as ever in his career. Coming off a long layoff due to injury with no practise whatsoever. He didn't even have a great IPL ffs.
And he is expected to walk into the test side as if its his entitlement. And bat wherever he wants to.

Ffs. Indian team is not sponsored by Ambani.

 

[Senile Sentry]

He'll struggle in moving conditions because he doesn't really get his foot to the pitch. Shouldn't be a huge technical change to make because he's immaculately balanced otherwise. Those forward defensives to 145 kph bowlers had me drooling.

Dude has made truckloads of runs in NZ A games so I trust him to make the adjustments needed.

Obviously should be given a long run.

 

[Daemon]

I wouldn't even pick Rohit tbh. You're getting much the same package in Rahul; besides, he's younger and has been in the country for longer.

Yeah Rahul>Rohit is perfectly fine.

 

[cnerd123]

He'll struggle in moving conditions because he doesn't really get his foot to the pitch. Shouldn't be a huge technical change to make because he's immaculately balanced otherwise. Those forward defensives to 145 kph bowlers had me drooling.

yea his feet didn't move much but he got into some really good position. Good weight transfer, as Daemon mentioned.

 

[honestbharani]

Rohit will be fine opening guys. SCG might be exactly the kind of deck he can bully a 100 in quick time. And if he is confident, he is a different player, irrespective of where he bats.

 

[Senile Sentry]

GILL reminded me of Sehwag with some of his shots he is someone who can use his feet and also is blessed with excellent hand eye coordination.

Can't wait for him to play at home. Has all the potential to average in 60s.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Rohit will be fine opening guys. SCG might be exactly the kind of deck he can bully a 100 in quick time. And if he is confident, he is a different player, irrespective of where he bats.

Looks like his confidence always desert him playing overseas

 

[honestbharani]

Lol.. Guess we will see after next test.

But ****, when did I become the Hitman advocate here?

 

[Flem274*]

But that's what you'd literally be doing by putting Vihari or Lokesh to open. And not only that, you'd be jeapordising the career of two talented youngsters all to potentially maximise the output from a 33 year old proven Test Match Middle Order failure. Rohit has had his chance to bat 5/6 in Tests and failed. His recent runs have come as an opener. He only got selected in the Test squad again as an opener. You have two younger prospects who have not yet had the same number of opportunities as Rohit got who could play in the safer middle order position. Why **** them over in the hope that Rohit has turned the corner?

If Rohit plays, he should open. Otherwise he doesn't play.

it's a grim day when i agree with this ****

 

[Arachnodouche]

lol be poetic justice for Rohit to lose his place to KL who's well on his way to being the Rohit of his generation. Bad choices all around.

 

[cnerd123]

lol be poetic justice for Rohit to lose his place to KL who's well on his way to being the Rohit of his generation. Bad choices all around.

tbf Lokesh has accomplished more at this stage of his India career than Nohit did. Lokesh is also fitter, and is not from Mumbai. Both massive pluses.

 

[Pratters]

I can see Saini going the distance if picked, the kind of sc fast bowler who has pace that gets carried away and starts banging in with no direction

Just play Kuldeep instead of Saini. Picking Saini makes no sense.