The defeat in Adelaide has placed India in a challenging situation. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma must now reassess their strategies as they prepare for the third Test in Brisbane. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has cautioned the team to be judicious in their decision-making regarding potential changes to the playing XI for the upcoming match.

The Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana, who excelled in Perth, failed to replicate their success with the pink ball. While Bumrah and Siraj each secured four wickets, Rana did not take any wickets and conceded runs at an economy rate of 5.40. Following the disappointing performance in Adelaide, there are growing concerns about Rana's position in the XI, especially with Akash Deep poised to make his Test debut on Australian soil.

Manjrekar believes that Akash should be included in the XI, but he emphasizes that this should not come at the cost of Rana's place, suggesting that Akash could be considered if India opts for a pace-heavy attack. "Not at the expense of Harshit Rana. However, I suspect that might occur. I am attempting to interpret the team management's intentions, but if the pitch favours pace, he (Akash Deep) could serve as the fourth seamer... Therefore, India must deliberate on this matter carefully," Manjrekar stated on ESPNCricinfo.

Akash made a notable Test debut during the England series earlier this year and performed admirably against Bangladesh and New Zealand in the limited opportunities he received. He was able to challenge the batters with the new ball, despite the pitch offering minimal support for the fast bowlers.

Tricky job for Rohit-Gambhir to finalise the pace attack

As the Brisbane Test approaches, the Indian team is demonstrating a strong focus and determination to recover from their recent loss, with players already engaged in their preparations. The intensive practice sessions underscore their dedication to enhancing their skills and ensuring a more robust performance in the forthcoming match.

Manjrekar advised that India should carefully evaluate the Gabba pitch before finalizing their choices for the third and fourth seamers in the lineup.

"This bowling combination featuring Bumrah, Siraj, Harshit Rana, or Akash Deep may appear somewhat insufficient if the pitch proves to be as flat as it was in Adelaide. However, it should suffice under different conditions," he remarked.

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