If Harbhajan and Kumble are both fit, Mishra will have to go back to what he has done for the last eight years: wait his turn.
If Anil Kumble is fit, he’s set to replace spinner Amit Mishra in the third against Australia. If Kotla is the fortress, Kumble has been its king. He has taken 55 wickets in six Tests here, at an average of 15.41.
After having missed the Mohali Test, he seems to have recovered from the shoulder injury, and has been bowling in the nets. “He is looking good,” Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, said. “We are very happy with the way he is progressing. And if he is fit, he is the captain of the team, and he will take Mishra’s place.”
If Harbhajan and Kumble are both fit, Mishra will have to go back to what he has done for the last eight years: wait his turn. It may sound harsh, but that’s what mostly happens to the replacement when the captain is back to full fitness.
Kirsten was very clear about that, and also ruled out playing three spinners. “That’s one good option you have [dropping a batsman to accommodate all the spinners],” Kirsten said, “But I certainly want to be going into a Test match with six batsmen.”
Apart from that aspect of team composition, Kirsten spoke of the confidence India’s win in Mohali gave them. “It was a great Test-match win, certainly a benchmark Test, in terms of dominating play,” Kirsten said. “It’s a new day, a new game, but we will certainly use that Test as a benchmark for what we want to achieve.”
