The decision has been made by the Indian team management and selectors that maintaining a positive mindset is crucial for achieving the desired results in matches, emphasising the need for players to control their temperament on the field. While playing aggressively is a fundamental aspect, winning matches requires adopting an aggressive style, which every batsman must become accustomed to.
The team management has actively worked to instill this mindset in all players, resulting in Team India’s success against Australia in two consecutive series. This success led to a significant debate within the team regarding the selection of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for the XI. Despite KL Rahul’s technical prowess and strength, there are concerns about his vulnerability to the short ball, occasional impatience while playing aggressively, and the preference for Shreyas Iyer in the upcoming Test series against England.
Rahul Dravid, the head coach, favors Shreyas Iyer due to his stroke play, attacking game, and unique skills, which set him apart from other batsmen. With the absence of Rishabh Pant from the team, Shreyas’s positive thinking has gained additional significance, making him a preferred choice.
Despite KL Rahul’s superior performance in the last Test series against South Africa, Dravid believes that Shreyas’s better mindset on domestic pitches can yield positive results. Shreyas has demonstrated success on Indian pitches and in Bangladesh, particularly against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Dravid has clarified that a brilliant performance in the Ranji Trophy is crucial for securing a place in the playing eleven against England.
While the ideal scenario would be to include both Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the decision not to have Rahul keep wickets in Tests has created a challenge in the playing eleven, compelling India to include KS Bharat, whose batting level is not on par with Shreyas and Rahul. This presents a significant problem for Team India.