Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rishabh Pant to face the axe for the Sydney Test?

Team India is rattled by the setbacks they have suffered in the ongoing Test season. The Boxing Day Test, which propelled Australia to a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, has caused chaos within the Indian camp. The consistently failing batting order has come under intense scrutiny, and the future of Rohit Sharma's captaincy hangs in the balance. After controversial dressing room leaks grabbed the headlines on New Year's Day, a new report suggests that Rishabh Pant has become the target of the axe. Reportedly, India is set to drop the wicketkeeper-batter from the Playing XI for the Sydney Test, with Dhruv Jurel set to replace Pant in the team for the fixture.

Rishabh Pant to be dropped from India Playing XI for last BGT Test

The Sydney Test provides an opportunity for India to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While the qualification chances have become hazy, India could extend Australia's decade-long wait to claim the trophy. However, ahead of the final fixture, the team camp is ablaze Down Under. On Thursday, India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, held a conference in his bold, true demeanor. Firstly, Gambhir vehemently denied reports of dressing room tensions, asserting that any internal debates should remain private. Next, the head coach mentioned that a look at the SCG pitch will solidify the playing XI for the last Test. His comments cast a shadow on the participation of even the captain, Rohit Sharma.

Gambhir's presser, however, was followed by an update suggesting that Rishabh Pant will be dropped from the Playing XI. Pant's recent performances have been under scrutiny, particularly after his reckless dismissals in the fourth Test in Melbourne. Despite the dire situations that Indian batting order has landed in consistently across the four BGT Tests, Pant has not moulded his attacking gameplay according to the demand of the situation. Yet another reckless turn out in the Boxing Day Test drew enraged reaction from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Sitting in the commentary box, Gavaskar shouted, "Stupid, stupid, stupid" at Pant who attempted an unorthodox scoop only to be caught out.

The hero of India's historic Gabba breach, Pant has struggled to convert promising starts into big scores in the ongoing edition. The batter has failed to register even a single half-century in this series, with multiple scores in the twenties and thirties. As a result, reports indicate that the team management is contemplating dropping Pant for the final Test, opting instead to give reserve wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel a chance. Jurel impressed in the practice Tests against Australia A, scoring 80 and 68, but struggled to make an impact in his first Test match in Perth.