Gautam Gambhir Returns to Australia Amid Tough Batting Order Challenges Ahead of Pink-Ball Test

In preparation for the pink-ball Test, Gautam Gambhir has returned to Australia by plane and will shortly be joining the Indian team in Adelaide.

In advance of the forthcoming pink-ball Test, which is scheduled to start in Adelaide on December 6, India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has taken a plane from India to rejoin the touring group in Australia. The former Indian hitter will be included in the visiting team on Tuesday, according to ESPNCricinfo. The head coach of India had already taken a plane home for private reasons.

Ravindra Jadeja and India coach Gautam Gambhir during a practice at Perth’s Optus Stadium. (AFP)

Gambhir was not present for India’s recent two-day pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI of Australia, which the tourists ultimately won by a margin of six wickets. Rain ruined Day 1 of the practice match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, forcing it to be shortened to one day.

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Speaking of the practice match, Shubman Gill, who was returning from injury, played a 50-run knock, and India easily chased down 241 in the 46-overs-per-side affair. With the bat, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all made significant contributions.

After the Perth Test, which the visitors won by 295 runs under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah, the head coach of India took a plane back to India.

Prior to the practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, the remaining support staff, which included Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel, had managed the training in Gambhir’s absence.

Gambhir faces difficult selection calls.

Now that India has a complete team to choose from, Gautam Gambhir will face difficult selection decisions. India will be led by captain Rohit Sharma in Adelaide now that he is back. For the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy encounter, Rohit is anticipated to start in lieu of Dhruv Jurel.

However, given how effectively KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal performed as openers in Perth, it is unknown where he would bat.

Shubman Gill is almost certain to move up to his No. 3 spot now that he has fully recovered from his injury. For the Adelaide Test, Devdutt Padikkal is expected to be benched.

In Perth, India also entered with Washington Sundar before Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Given Ashwin and Jadeja’s skill with the ball, it remains to be seen if the management continues with this same approach.