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Ajinkya Rahane presents his Indian squad for Test matches, excluding Kohli and Bumrah
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Aaj Tak
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Ajinkya Rahane presents his Indian squad for Test matches, excluding Kohli and Bumrah

Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has formed his Indian squad for Test matches, but the absence of two big names surprised cricket fans. It was noted that Rahane included players with whom he shared a dressing room.

Ajinkya Rahane has played for the Indian team in Tests multiple times, playing alongside legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, and also strengthening India's attack in Tests with Cheteshwar Pujara. Nevertheless, the exclusion of Kohli and Bumrah from his chosen team became a subject of wide discussion.

In Rahane's squad, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan are responsible for opening the match. Rahul Dravid is placed third, and Sachin Tendulkar is fourth. Rahane himself chose the fifth position. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was appointed captain and wicketkeeper. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja participate in the spin department, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma are responsible for fast bowling.

One possible reason for Virat Kohli's absence from the team may be related to the batting order. Ajinkya Rahane placed the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar at the fourth position, although King Kohli also played at this position in Tests. Rahane did not explain the reasons for this choice.

The decision to exclude Bum-Boom Bumrah is also considered shocking. Despite him bringing several memorable victories to India due to his high speed and accuracy in Test bowling, Ajinkya Rahane chose Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma for fast bowling.

Ajinkya Rahane's Alltime India Test XI lineup is as follows: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma.

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Attack coach states that team selection cannot be made on social media; supports Sandhu and Abhishek
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www.aajtak.in

Attack coach states that team selection cannot be made on social media; supports Sandhu and Abhishek

India's attack coach, Sitanshu Kotak, highly praised the opening batsmen Sandhu Samson and Abhishek Sharma. He noted that in addition to strength, talent, and aggressive intent, both players demonstrate excellent control over their minds.

Kotak also defended the coaching staff's decisions in response to social media demands for the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi in the squad. He emphasized that management decisions are made considering the interests of the entire team, and people should think bigger than just choosing their favorite lineup.

Sitanshu Kotak particularly highly rated Sandhu Samson, who scored 67 runs off 33 balls in the first T20 against New Zealand. In that match, India won by four wickets, achieving the target of 226 runs. Kotak called Sandhu a magnificent and powerful batsman whose play while chasing a large target was admirable.

He added that if a player starts thinking that their goal is to hit three or four sixes in the first two overs, it can cause fear of getting dismissed. According to Kotak, after early exits from games over two or three matches, players begin to worry about being dropped from the team. Nevertheless, the way Sandhu and Abhishek display their intentions despite such pressure inspires optimism.

Kotak named the fearlessness of both opening batsmen as their greatest strength. He stressed that besides power, talent, and determination, maintaining control over one's consciousness is crucial. He noted it is incredible that they achieve this by controlling their minds along with strength, talent, and intent, and that developing such fearlessness is unimaginable.

The 15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi has been awaiting his chance in the Indian team since the Asian Games. The issue of giving him an opportunity instead of Sandhu and Abhishek is regularly raised on social media. However, the coaching staff's decisions in the first T20 confirmed their correctness: Sandhu scored 67 runs, and Abhishek made a vital contribution in the powerplay.

Before the second T20, Ishan Kishan left the team due to injury. Because of this, there is hope that Vaivava Suryavanshi might get a chance in Saturday's match. Nevertheless, the final decision regarding his inclusion in the squad remains with the coaching staff.

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