Captain Rohit Sharma had stressed earlier this week that the Test defeat in Bengaluru would not trigger the panic button. However, India made as many as three changes to their playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, prompting pundits to wonder whether the team was under pressure in the lead-up to the crucial Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and the visitors made one change, bringing in an extra spinner in Mitchell Santner in place of Matt Henry. On the other hand, India dropped KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. Shubman Gill, who missed out of the first Test due to a stiff neck, returned to the side while Akash Deep came in as the second pacer.

IND v NZ, 2nd Test Day 1 Updates

In a surprising turn of events, Washington Sundar, who was added to the squad after the Bengaluru Test, made it to the playing XI. Washington returned to the XI for the first time since March 2021 and was picked ahead of Axar Patel, who has been one of India’s premier spinners.

Former India captain Anil Kumble said he was surprised by Washington’s addition to the XI and said that the other two changes are understandable. Kumble said he hopes the team management has communicated clearly to the players who were not picked in the XI.

“Under pressure, bowled out for 46. You expected things to happen and it didn’t. He (Kuldeep) would have wanted the ball in hand here. He will be disappointed with that,” Anil Kumble told the broadcasters on Thursday, October 24.

“I thought KL Rahul was at No. 6, but he has been moved up and down the order. Yes, on form, Sarfaraz gets the opportunity. In the scheme of things, as long as the messaging for the three missing players is clear, it’s fine,” he added.

“Otherwise, I am really surprised that India had to make 3 changes. You really had Axar Patel, who probably won the Test series in India not just with the ball, but with the bat. I am a bit surprised that Washington had come in and straightaway made it to the playing XI.”

PANIC? SUNIL GAVASKAR AND SIMON DOULL REACT

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar suggested that India might have panicked a little and that bringing in Washington Sundar was more to add cushion to the batting order.

“I don’t see a lot of teams making three changes unless there are injury concerns. Washington Sundar inclusion which actually tells you they are worried about their batting. More than his bowling, they need his batting down the order as the cushion. Yes, there is a lot of talk about the left-handers in the New Zealand batting unit, but I would have picked Kuldeep Yadav, who can also turn it away from a left-hander,” Gavaskar said.

Meanwhile, former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull reflected on India’s team selection, saying that the team did not panic but has steered away from the talks of backing players and not dropping players.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has often stressed that the team management doesn’t look to drop players but only pick them based on conditions and requirements.

“I don’t think, they have pressed the panic button. It just surprises me a little bit. There were press conferences before the tour about backing players, backing their ability and all of a sudden, after one Test match, you are saying the guy who was good enough in the first Test match is now not good enough. Okay, Sarfaraz knocked the door down with that big 150. But, you are all of a sudden not backing the guy that you backed in Test match No. 1,” Doull said.

“Washington Sundar, coming off runs in domestic cricket, straightaway is in the XI. Does that tell me they are not happy with how Ashwin bowled? But they are bringing in another off-spinner because he (Ashwin) didn’t bowl well in the first test. I will tell you what, he will bowl well here.

“Akash, I can understand. It’s interesting,” he added.

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