Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik feels head coach Rahul Dravid has several questions to address following Team India’s loss against Australia in the World Test Championship final. He expressed that were a few injuries which hampered India’s chances in the final. However, he added that the team needs a revamp following the loss.
Team India missed the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for the final due to injuries. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is yet to fully recover from his car accident. Dinesh Karthik expressed that these players will walk into the Indian team after recovering from their injuries. He added that Team India reached the finals due to their contribution. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said,
“I think a bit of both. In many ways, we know that a lot of them are in their mid-30s. So few questions there for Rahul Dravid, who he wants to keep and who he wants to move on with. Now other names that you said, Bumrah, Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Pant. Iyer will walk into this team. Let’s make it very obvious. I think they warrant a place in the team. In this cycle, they have been one of the key reasons, why we are sitting here and talking in England today because that’s the kind of success they have helped India achieve.”
The wicket-keeper further named Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar and Sarfaraz Khan as players who could be slotted into the Indian test team. He said,
“No. 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has had a phenomenal domestic season. Are we going to find a place for him? No. 2 Sarfaraz Khan. Now that’s been a big name doing the rounds for some time now in the middle order. If you want to fit him in, who are you going to leave out and then be followed by the Mukesh Kumars and the rest of them, is there a place for a new medium pacer to come in and stamp his authority over a period of time? Are you going to give him that two-year cycle?”
I think Shami and Siraj were very good: Dinesh Karthik
Team India lost the World Test Championship final by 209 runs at The Kennington Oval in London. Dinesh Karthik expressed that Mohammed Siraj and Mohamed Shami performed well. However, he raised questions over Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur’s performance as bowlers. He stated that the duo wasn’t effective with the ball. Dinesh Karthik said,
“Let’s be very honest. I think Shami and Siraj were very good. But Umesh and Shardul as bowlers weren’t as effective as Dravid and Rohit would have thought it to be. So, yes Shardul contributed with the bat. But are we always going to look at him as a bowler who can bat or a pure all-rounder? I would think more of a bowler who can bat. And Umesh, where do you see him in the context of things?”
Team India will take on West Indies in a two-match Test series, after a brief break from the sport. The series begins on July 12 at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica. Indian selectors are likely to give a chance to new players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mukesh Kumar on the tour.
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