India's Test vice-captain KL Rahul feels it's never easy to predict the nature of a track but there is a "temptation" to play three spinners in the first Test against Australia, beginning here at Nagpur on Thursday.
With less than 48 hours left for the Border Gavaskar Trophy to begin, Rahul didn바카라t provide any definitive answers about three key slots in the team -- the wicketkeeper, the third spinner and the number five in the batting order.
Asked if Shubman Gill will bat in the middle-order, Rahul said: 바카라We still haven바카라t decided on the final XI. It바카라s going to be a tough decision to make. There are guys who have performed exceedingly well and there are a few spots open so there are a few discussions going on and the players are being spoken to."
The VCA track is expected to assist spinners from day one itself but Rahul doesn바카라t want to be a soothsayer when it comes to reading the 22-yard strip.
바카라Yes, we did see it (the pitch), but it바카라s still too early to really know what the pitch is going to do. We need to come here on the day of the match to know how it바카라s really going to play," he told reporters.
"We can only look at it and assume it바카라s going to play a certain way, but you never know with pitches. Yes, there is the temptation to play three spinners because we바카라re playing in India. We바카라ll take that call on the day of the game or the day before the game,바카라 the stylish right-hander said.
With skipper Rohit Sharma back in the mix, Rahul was asked if he would like to bat in the middle-order where he had started his Test career back in 2014.
바카라If it arises, then I바카라m more than happy to do that. Whatever little cricket I바카라ve played for the country, I바카라ve always done that.
바카라Whatever the team has asked me to do, I try and prepare that way and try and do my best for the team, and if that is something that the team wants me to do here, I바카라ll be more than happy to do it,바카라 Rahul said, although it is unlikely that he would come down the order.
So does he find it unique that there is no straightforward choice for picking the playing eleven this time around?
바카라I don바카라t know if it has happened before but, yes, this time is is going to be tough. Tough decision to select an eleven. All the 15 guys in the side are top quality, and that바카라s why they바카라re here. Anyone of them on any given day can be a match winner...
"The playing XI, we always try and make a decision based on what바카라s best for the team and for that particular Test match. We have done that over the last two years," that was his response to a PTI query.
Rahul didn바카라t forget to remind the media that he is still pretty sour about the backlash that he got for dropping Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against Bangladesh after his match-winning performance in the series opener.
바카라There have been questions about why a certain player has played바카라 even in Bangladesh, I remember, Kuldeep (Yadav) got the man of the match and did not play the next Test.
바카라Obviously, the only reason, or the only thinking, behind such decisions is which player fits the role for that particular condition.
바카라You said, I have played for 10 years, but even if I have played for 20-30 years, and even after retirement, there is nobody who can look at the pitch and say accurately that 바카라this is how it is going to play바카라.
"It바카라s really based on some experience and a little bit of history of that place. Even in this series, that바카라s something we will continue to do,바카라 he said.
Whether it is Suryakumar Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav, whoever gets dropped needs to take that on chin.
바카라Everyone is very clear about why they바카라re playing, why they aren바카라t playing, their roles in the team. That바카라s a good thing, and the atmosphere in the team is very good.바카라
Reverse swing will play a huge role
KL Rahul feels with the quality in the Australian bowling line-up, reverse swing in the dry and abrasive conditions can play a huge role.
바카라It always plays a huge role in India. We have seen that historically as well. Any team that has quality fast bowlers who can exploit reverse swing will be dangerous on pitches like these. That바카라s something that we have tried to prepare for over the last week, 10 days.
바카라We all know the Australian team has always produced high-quality fast bowlers, and we know the threat they can pose. That's the beauty of playing against Australia, that바카라s what excites you and something we are kicked about.바카라 With David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw in the mix, the southpaw heavy Aussie line-up may just given an advantage to the home team.
바카라I think it will help our bowlers a little bit. If there are two left-handers together, and left-handers are coming in to bat, back-to-back, that will only mean that the bowlers get time to settle into a certain line and length.
바카라That also is a very unique thing. I don바카라t think any other team has that many left-handers..."
