India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI, India vs Australia Test Series: Keeping in mind the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer believes that instead of playing the last ODI against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Tuesday, Team India’s key players should play in the next round of Ranji Trophy. should.
India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which makes Tuesday’s match a simple affair. Incidentally, the final round of league matches in Ranji Trophy will begin on the same day. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul last played a Test match in December 2022 against Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma was last seen playing in the red ball format against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in March 2022.
Players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Jaydev Unadkat are playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia starting in Nagpur from February 9. He said, “I think it (playing in the next round of Ranji Trophy) will mean a lot. If they play maybe two innings of a match in a Ranji game – that will definitely help. No matter how many You are experienced, you definitely need to give yourself time in red ball cricket. You don’t want to be under any pressure when you play the first Test.”
Jaffer also feels that wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharath, who is currently in India’s ODI squad, should be released to play in Andhra’s next match in the Ranji Trophy, as he will feature in the playing XI alongside Ishan Kishan in Indore. There is no possibility of playing in ODIs.
Both Bharat and Ishan have been named in India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is recovering from multiple injuries sustained in a horrific car accident on 30 December.
Jaffer praised pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj and expressed his surprise when India bowled out the visitors for just 108 in their eight-wicket win in the second ODI in Raipur.