From India’s point of view, the three-day warm-up match match between India A and England XI is crucial to sort out one or two batting slots in the Test team, if not immediately but in the near future. There are three players vying for the reserve opener’s slot, Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund and Ajinkya Rahane, the last-named being part of the Test squad as the third opener behind regulars Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
On Monday, India A coach Lalchand Rajput hinted after the team’s practice session that Rahane could bat at no. 3. ‘I think Rahane likes to bat at number 3. Normally team management and the coach take a call but it’s a new selection committee. We will wait and see,’ said Rajput, hinting clearly that India Test discards Mukund and Vijay could open.
The match could also be a direct contest for the vacant no. 6 slot between incumbent Raina and comeback man Yuvraj Singh, who is coming into the game on the back of a double hundred for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
Also in the running for middle order slots are Manoj Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, a late replacement for Shikhar Dhawan who sat out of the match as it clashed with his wedding, Ashok Meneria and Robin Bist, from Rajasthan. With no regular spinners in the India A ranks, the medium pacers will have a long work haul which would be to their benefit, according to Rajput, on a wicket which may assist the pacers in the initial stages of the game.
‘It’s a good wicket. At CCI, always the first session helps the bowlers. It’s one of those wickets which will have some carry in the first session. It’s a typical Mumbai wicket, there will be a little bit of bounce,’ said Rajput.
‘I don’t know what the selectors have in mind. I would look at it from the point of view of the medium pacers. It’s a good opportunity for them. Normally, if you have two spinners, medium pacers don’t take much part in the game because after the new ball, they are dead because of the turning wickets,’ he added.
On Monday, India A coach Lalchand Rajput hinted after the team’s practice session that Rahane could bat at no. 3. ‘I think Rahane likes to bat at number 3. Normally team management and the coach take a call but it’s a new selection committee. We will wait and see,’ said Rajput, hinting clearly that India Test discards Mukund and Vijay could open.
The match could also be a direct contest for the vacant no. 6 slot between incumbent Raina and comeback man Yuvraj Singh, who is coming into the game on the back of a double hundred for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
Also in the running for middle order slots are Manoj Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, a late replacement for Shikhar Dhawan who sat out of the match as it clashed with his wedding, Ashok Meneria and Robin Bist, from Rajasthan. With no regular spinners in the India A ranks, the medium pacers will have a long work haul which would be to their benefit, according to Rajput, on a wicket which may assist the pacers in the initial stages of the game.
‘It’s a good wicket. At CCI, always the first session helps the bowlers. It’s one of those wickets which will have some carry in the first session. It’s a typical Mumbai wicket, there will be a little bit of bounce,’ said Rajput.
‘I don’t know what the selectors have in mind. I would look at it from the point of view of the medium pacers. It’s a good opportunity for them. Normally, if you have two spinners, medium pacers don’t take much part in the game because after the new ball, they are dead because of the turning wickets,’ he added.