"You can't drop a player who saved you from follow-on": Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Team India's likely changes in the fourth Test against Australia

There are reports that India are likely to replace Akash Deep with Harshit Rana in the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, Sunil Gavaskar has rejected such stories, saying the team management can’t remove a player who saved a follow-on in the third Test. The series is levelled at 1-1, and the remaining two games will decide the winner.

After losing the series opener by 295 runs in Perth, Australia have dominated India in Adelaide and Brisbane. The visitors lost the second contest by 10 wickets while rain saved them from a defeat at the Gabba.

“It is highly unlikely that Harshit will replace Akash Deep. Why would you drop a player who saved you from follow-on in the previous Test?”

Akash took three wickets and scored 31 off 44 balls at No.11, helping India avoid a follow-on.

Gavaskar doesn’t want India to play second spinner in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy.

“They can’t drop Nitish Kumar Reddy. He is the fourth fast bowler. I can’t see India playing just two seamers and Nitish. For me, they will retain the playing XI of the last game,” he added.

Nitish is averaging almost 45 with the bat in three Tests but has picked up just three wickets. Indian spinners have done well at the MCG, and there is a possibility of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar playing in the contest.

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