Will India consider changes for Sunday’s New Zealand game?

Ahead of their final group stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy match with New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, the Indian cricket team might have a couple of worries on their mind. 

It has been surmised in some circles here in Dubai that Rohit Sharma is in doubt for this match on account of a hamstring injury sustained during the previous clash with Pakistan, and that the captain could be rested for this fixture to keep him fresh for the semi-final on March 4 and, if all goes well for India, the final.

However, given the nature of hamstring injuries, even a week’s gap is often not enough. So then, what is the nature of Rohit’s injury? 

While the team management has kept mum on the issue, all we have are visuals of the man himself. Rohit did not bat during India’s first training session since last Sunday’s game against Pakistan but was an active participant in fielding drills and watched closely as his batting team-mates went about their business. Rohit was his usual self that day, laughing at some of his team-mates during a fielding drill and slapping the backs of others. Does not batting indicate that Rohit is in doubt for this match? 

I would not venture that far and instead say that Rohit will be fine for Sunday’s fixture. However, in the likelihood that Rohit is rested, India would then have to open with KL Rahul given that they do not have a third opener in the squad, and hand a middle-order spot to Rishabh Pant who has been smashing the ball in the nets. Rahul last opened in an ODI in 2022. 

Shubman Gill did not join India on Wednesday at the ICC Academy, but India’s vice-captain turned up the following day for a two-hour net with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and the team’s two throwdown specialists, Nuwan and Raghu. So, all talk of Gill being sidelined with a viral flu can be ignored. 

Now to the possible changes in the bowling. The presence of four left-handed batsmen in New Zealand’s top eight – Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner – might encourage the Indian team management to play one of Varun Chakravarthy or Washington Sundar, if not both. 

Varun was included in India’s Champions Trophy squad once Yashasvi Jaiswal was dropped after news of Jasprit Bumrah not being fit was announced, and Rohit has talked up the all-sorts spinner twice in public. But so far in Dubai, Varun has not been needed by India. After all the hype surrounding his fast-tracked appearance into the squad for this tournament, could India consider playing Varun for the left-handed batting quotient that the Black Caps possess? 

That would, of course, mean swapping out a spinner. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets in the win over Pakistan and is a form and confidence bowler, so you would not want him warming the bench and then returning for the semi-final next Tuesday. Axar Patel does not have big wickets to show for, but he has been a solid presence in the team during their time here in Dubai, keeping a lid on runs and effecting a run out to get rid of Imam-ul-Haq last Sunday. Plus, Axar extends India’s batting order and can be used up at No 5 as seen in recent times. 

Mohammed Shami showed no signs of worry during India’s nets session after he was seen clutching his right shin during the Pakistan game, but it could be that the Indian team management decides to rest him for this match with New Zealand. In such a scenario, the only left-arm pacer in the squad, Arshdeep Singh, would get a game. 

Friday’s training session at the ICC Academy is the last time that the Indian team will practice before the match against the Black Caps.