Sawt Falasteen - Pant fit for second Test as Gill gives India selection 'headache'

But the return of Shubman Gill has left India with a selection dilemma on the eve of the match in Pune as they look to square the series.

Pant hit 99 at Bengaluru in his first Test appearance since a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 as India lost to New Zealand by eight wickets.

While keeping, Pant hurt the same knee that was operated on after the crash that sidelined him for more than a year, and did not field for large parts of the match.

"He will keep wickets in the game tomorrow," Gambhir told a news conference Wednesday.

Batsman Gill missed the first Test with a neck issue and his replacement, Sarfaraz Khan, hit 150 in India's second innings putting on 177 with Pant.

With Gill returning, India have to decide whether to drop senior batsman KL Rahul, who scored a duck and 12 in Bengaluru, or centurion Sarfaraz.

"Picking an eleven in any Test match in India is a headache, because of the amount of talent that we have," Gambhir said.

"It's a good challenge in picking the team. It means Indian cricket has a strong foundation and is at a good level."

The former opener Rahul dropped down to the middle-order last year but his form has been patchy.

He last scored a century in South Africa in December's Boxing Day Test and has only two fifties since, drawing criticism from pundits and fans in the cricket-obsessed nation.

Gambhir countered that he selected players based on their form, not public opinion, and backed Rahul.

"You don't pick players on social media, or for that matter even what the experts are saying," Gambhir said. "I feel he is batting really well."

He noted that Rahul had a "decent knock" in scoring 68 at Kanpur against Bangladesh last month and "has the capability of scoring big runs".

New Zealand registered their first victory in a Test in India for 36 years at Bengaluru after the hosts were bundled out for 46 in their first innings.

India are expected to name their side at the toss on Thursday morning.

P.Tamimi--SF-PST