Former Indian wicket-keeper batter Robin Uthappa has urged the selectors to consider Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi for the third ODI against Zimbabwe after the visitors took an unassailable 2-0 lead at the Harare Sports Club.
The Indians made just one change in their line-up, with all-rounder Shardul Thakur replacing pacer Deepak Chahar. According to Uthappa, this would be a perfect opportunity to give the inexperienced members of the squad some playing time, something which will be very important in case of injuries during pressure situations. He felt that the management might rest Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, to make way for Avesh Khan and Chahar.
“Definitely, I think Chahar will come back into the frame, I think Avesh Khan will get a game and Prasidh might get a break. Maybe Siraj could also get a break, Shardul would play, I think. They have anyway decided to rotate the fast bowlers so that everyone remains fresh,”
Uthappa was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
The Indian fast bowling contingent did well across the two matches, and the management would be hoping for more of the same from those who will play the final ODI as well.
Moreover, Uthappa feels that it would be grossly unfair for Gaikwad and Tripathi to travel back to India without playing a game.
“As far as batting is concerned, I don’t know if they will make too many changes. Shahbaz may get a game, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi have been waiting in the wings for a while.
It will be unfair if they don’t get a game and it will also be unfair to the youngsters who are playing right now, for example, Shubman Gill, who is in such great form,”
the veteran added.
Uthappa also conceded that any further changes in the batting line-up is only going to complicate the team management’s decision-making process, which is already a sticky wicket with so many options for a limited number of places in the side.
