Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik. image credits: twitter

Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has reacted to Australia’s bizarre selection calls for the ongoing second Test against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Following the heavy loss in the first Test at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, Australia made a couple of changes to their playing elevens. The visitors have taken a big gamble by handing out a debut to uncapped left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann for the ongoing game.

Kuhnemann was originally not a part of the squad. He joined the team only after the first Test when Mitchell Swepson flew back home for the birth of his first child.

Matthew Kuhnemann
Matthew Kuhnemann (Credits: Cricket.com.au)

In another major change, the visitors have recalled Travis Head to their playing eleven after sensationally dropping him for the first Test. Head faced the axing despite enjoying a stunning season at home before arriving in India.

Head came to India after scoring more than 500 runs against South Africa and West Indies. With Head back in the playing eleven, Australia dropped Matthew Renshaw

Dinesh Karthik reacts to Australia’s selection:

The selection of Matthew Kuhnemann in the playing eleven means Australia are playing the Delhi Test with just one pacer and as many as three frontline spinners. While skipper Pat Cummins is the sole pacer in the team, Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon are the other two spinners apart from Kuhnemann.

With Cameron Green currently sidelined with a finger injury, Australia have no fast-bowling allrounder. The last time Australia went into a Test with just one pacer was in 2017 when they beat Bangladesh in Chittagong with. Cummins was the sole pacer on that occasion too.

Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik (Sportzpics)

Australia’s selection has taken many by surprise and Dinesh Karthik is not an exception either. Soon after Australia’s playing eleven was announced, he was asked about it by a fan on Twitter. In reply, Dinesh Karthik made it clear that he was shocked by it as he wrote: “Big gamble. First time I’m seeing an Aussie team with just one pacer ?”