The Indian cricket team has dropped its star batsman KL Rahul from the first pink-ball Test against Australia scheduled to start from 17 December. Instead, they have opted for Prithvi Shaw evoking strong reactions from fans.
The playing XI announced by the team management includes Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have kept in the team as reserves along with Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja.
Fans reacted in disbelief on the exclusion of Rahul and Gill.
I am finding it difficult to understand why KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are sitting outside. Prithvi Shaw was a failure in both practice games.
This is ridiculous. #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/BnervyIosM
— Aayush Sharma | آیوش شرما ?️? (@JournalistWFH) December 16, 2020
If india doesn’t want to play kl Rahul as an opener in the first test the next best option will be Shubman Gill in the opening slot. If prithvi Shaw gets game I’ll already consider india to be one down and any runs from his bat will just be a bonus.
— Sir RCT (@Realcricketweet) December 12, 2020
#KLRahul was more ideal choice over #PrithviShaw looking at current form, experience, consistency, also as he has just captained kxip and vice captained #India in limited over format and had analysed the game, upgraded himself by wicket keeping also, Isn’t he ready for comeback.
— Sambhram Doddamane (@sambhram24) December 16, 2020
WTH is Prithvi Shaw doing in the squad when you have kl rahul and gill on bench????#INDvAUS
— Ishan Patel (@Tofanikanudooo7) December 16, 2020
KL Rahul was the top-scorer in the recently-concluded IPL competition. In contrast, Prithvi Shaw has come under severe criticism for his inability to play big innings in any formats of the game.