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Shubman Gill And...? 3 Star Indian Players Rohit Sharma Could Drop In Bangladesh Tests

Shubman Gill's technical flaws might prove costly for him [X]Shubman Gill's technical flaws might prove costly for him [X]

Led by Rohit Sharma, India will kickstart their packed home season with a much-anticipated Test series against Bangladesh. The series holds significant importance for India, giving them a golden opportunity to fine-tune their red-ball game ahead of the high-voltage Test series against Australia. It is also crucial from their World Test Championship campaign's perspective, as India will aim to boost their final qualification chances with another home series victory. 

However, Rishabh Pant's Test return might result in a happy headache for the Rohit Sharma-led think tank regarding the team selection. While Rohit and Pant are certain starters with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, a few players might miss out on selection for several reasons. 

So, as India gear up for the Test series against Bangladesh, let's analyse and find out which players Rohit might drop from the playing XI. 

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill's inclusion on this list might surprise you, but the talented batter could lose his spot to someone like KL Rahul in the Bangladesh Tests. After India moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara, Gill replaced the veteran batter at number three. 

However, his recent failures in the Duleep Trophy might cost Gill big time, with Rahul emerging as a front-runner for the number three slot in India's Test XI. The experienced batter from Karnataka exhibited remarkable technique and temperament in seam-friendly conditions in the Duleep Trophy. On the contrary, Gill's struggles against the nip-backers persisted, with Navdeep Saini exposing him with a magnificent delivery. 

Given the importance of the batting position, India might choose Rahul's expertise over Gill's flamboyance. More importantly, they can't take the Bangladesh pace attack casually, considering their recent exploits on Pakistan's flat batting surfaces. 

Shreyas Iyer

Renowned for his ability to perform under pressure, Shreyas Iyer could also warm the bench in the Bangladesh Tests. The gritty batter, who lost his central contract earlier this year, slammed a breezy fifty for India D against the C team in the Duleep Trophy 2024. 

However, he has a glaring weakness against body-line bowling, which the Bangladesh seamers might exploit in the series. Furthermore, Sarfaraz Khan grabbed the opportunity with both hands in his absence, performing admirably in the England home series. So, given that the Mumbaikar did nothing wrong in his last Test appearance, India might prefer him over Iyer, at least for the series opener. 

Mohammed Siraj

Another marquee Indian player who might face the axe in the Bangladesh Tests is Mohammed Siraj. Given India will field three frontline spinners, only two spots will be up for grabs for the fast bowlers. While Jasprit Bumrah is an automatic choice in India's playing XI, Siraj could battle with someone like Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep for the remaining spot. 

Although Siraj's ability and commitment to the team are unquestionable, his recent form might lead to his exclusion from the playing XI. The 30-year-old could scalp only six wickets, failing to step up at crunch moments in the England series. Although he might be preferred for the first Test, it won't be surprising if India eventually replaces him with another pacer in the decider.