Ajinkya Rahane Wants to See Major Change in Gautam Gambhir’s Team Selection

Ajinkya Rahane himself is hoping to make his return to the Indian red-ball setup, with his last Test match being in 2023 against the West Indies.

Ajinkya Rahane Wants to See Major Change in Gautam Gambhir’s Team Selection

Ajinkya Rahane called for a an extra bowler in India's playing XI for the Manchester Test. (via NDTV Sports)

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Out-of-favor Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane, after the team’s heart-breaking loss to England at Lord’s, proposed a major change in the playing XI for the fourth Test. Rahane urged head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to consider picking an extra bowler. 

The third Test between India and England ended in significant disappointment, particularly for the Men in Blue, who had hoped to take a 2-1 lead after their commanding 336-run victory at Edgbaston. At Lord’s, England batted first and posted a decent 387 runs in their first innings, which was matched by the visitors. By the end of the Day 3, the rivalry had escalated, leading to intense sledging and on-field banter, with both teams in a position to win the match.

England, in the second innings, were bowled out for just 192 runs, thanks to a stellar bowling display by Washington Sundar, who ended with figures of 4/22. India needed only 193 runs to win the match, which would have marked only their fourth Test victory at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. However, the Men in Blue faltered, being dismissed for a mere 170 runs and losing the match by a slim margin of 22 runs.

India’s loss was particularly heartbreaking because their strong batting lineup, which had amassed over 1,000 runs at Edgbaston, faltered during the chase at Lord’s. While KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant scored big in the first innings, in the second innings only Ravindra Jadeja fought alongside tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, bringing the team agonizingly close to the target.

The Lord’s defeat therefore, highlighted the need for significant changes in the playing XI for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. One such change was suggested by Ajinkya Rahane, who is still hopeful for an India comeback.

He advised head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to include an extra bowler to reverse India’s fortunes in Manchester. While Gambhir prefers utility players, Rahane argued that an additional bowler would simplify things, as India needs to take all 20 wickets in the next two Tests. He said on Match Notes:

I feel going forward, India should look to add one extra bowler, because you’re going to win a Test match or a Test series by getting 20 wickets.

So far, the Indian team has opted for three all-rounders in the playing XI, instead of a fourth bowler. While this strategy has extended the batting lineup down to No. 9, it is yet to pay off, as the lower order has struggled to score runs consistently, with Jadeja being the exception. Consequently, a change particularly regarding bowling options, appears inevitable, with two players now in contention for inclusion.

With Ajinkya Rahane having not specified whether the extra bowler would be a spinner or a pacer, there remains a question over who would make it to the XI. With left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh currently nursing a hand injury, the obvious choice remains leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Ajinkya Rahane Pinpoints Moment India Lost the Lord’s Test Against England

Ex-India captain Ajinkya Rahane shared several notable moments that he thinks cost India the third Test against England, at Lord’s. Rahane specifically identified Rishabh Pant’s first-innings run-out and Karun Nair‘s second-innings dismissal as game-changing instances.

Ajinkya Rahane Rishabh Pant runout
Ajinkya Rahane noted that Rishabh Pant’s runout was the turning point of the game. (via Indian Express)

He first took note of Rishabh Pant’s run-out, as he was dismissed for 74 runs after Ben Stokes directly hit the non-striker’s stumps. He praised the English players for maintaining their intensity, and for seizing the opportunity to get back into the game with that run-out. Pant’s dismissal was indeed a game-changer, breaking India’s highest partnership of the third Test, a 141-run stand between him and KL Rahul.

Rahane further attributed India’s narrow defeat to Karun Nair’s dismissal in the second innings. The 37-year-old stated that Nair’s LBW stripped the Men in Blue off their momentum in the chase, allowing the home side to seize control and win the match.