Will it be caution over ambition for India in Pune?

Indias home domination hit a rare roadblock after fine contributions from Rachin Ravindra Matt Henry and William ORourke took centre stage in New Zealands eightwicket win in the first Test at Bengaluru on Sunday their maiden win on Indian soil after 36 yearsSkipper Rohit Sharmarsquos assurance on India coming out stronger in the remaining two Tests remains credible given how India has now and then bounced back with vengeance after tasting defeatA Test match loss at home is indeed a rare occurrence in Indian cricket The defeat in Bengaluru has certainly sent ripples through the team management as they prepare for the upcoming second Test in Pune starting Thursday With a sense of urgency that only a loss can induce the management will be scrambling to recalibrate their approachOne cannot help but anticipate a change in the playing XI and it seems almost unavoidable Indiarsquos performance has taken a hit and the Gahunje pitch in Pune is likely to present a different challenge compared to the Bengaluru surfaceEnter the lsquoShubman Gill factorrsquo The 25yearold toporder batter is expected to return fit and ready to make an impact If the team continues with the combination of five batters a wicketkeeper and five specialist bowlers someonersquos head will inevitably roll most likely that of KL Rahul After Sarfaraz Khanrsquos explosive 150 the call for change grows even louderThis series was always bound to be layered like an onion that brings tears to onersquos eyes India must keep a keen eye on the World Test Championship WTC table and the upcoming series against Australia while managing the workload of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit BumrahAlso ReadShould take it in right spirit ExMumbai coach Pandit on Shaws omission from Mumbai squadSharma has already hinted at the need for caution with Pant who despite not keeping wickets in the first Test contributed a vital 99 runs The question looms will the management take the risk of playing him in PuneAdding another layer of intrigue is the inclusion of Washington Sundar a lefthanded batter and offspinner into the squad However his participation raises questions about whom he will replace R Ashwin the seasoned offspinner or the leftarm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav This is particularly pressing if both Pant and Rahul find themselves on the sidelines Sundarrsquos impressive Ranji Trophy performance 152 runs and 688 in both innings against Delhi could provide the middle order with muchneeded depth and flexibility And letrsquos not forget Axar Patel whose inclusion also needs considerationMeanwhile resting a matchwinner like Yashasvi Jaiswal at this juncture would seem like throwing away a winning lottery ticket Besides the thought of giving Akash Deep a chance in place of the underwhelming Mohammed Siraj might appear desperate yet it carries longterm benefits With questions surrounding Mohammed Shamis availability for the tour Down Under Akash Deep could gain invaluable experience by playing as a third pacer in AustraliaBumrah fresh off the Bengaluru defeat now finds himself in a position where he cannot be rested to give both Siraj and Akash game time together And lets not forget that Pantrsquos impressive 99 came only after he received injections to numb the pain from his knee injuryWhile India waits with bated breath for Pantrsquos recovery itrsquos worth noting that the BCCIs medical team is optimistic he will be ready to don the wicketkeeping gloves in Pune But what if he doesnrsquot What if the management in their wisdom decides to prioritise caution over ambition Will they risk his fitness for the sake of a match that could either elevate them or further entrench them in mediocrityldquoWe have been carefully monitoring his injury With an important series BorderGavaskar Trophy ahead of us we cannot certainly take such things lightly It is still not decided but for the time being letrsquos say that we want to keep him aside He is a great batsman and an important part of the squad the board is yet to take a decisionrdquo a BCCI source told MidDay on TuesdayAlso ReadIndias middle order conundrum Sarfaraz Khan vs KL Rahul who fits the billThe entire situation teeters on the edge of absurdity where the stakes are monumental but the decisions feel precariousSo as the team prepares for the second Test one can only speculate how the changes will unfold Will India play it safe and maintain the status quo or will they gamble on fresh talent As fans wersquore left to watch this drama unfold hoping for brilliance but bracing for mediocrity Each decision made in the leadup to the Pune Test will echo far beyond the confines of the ground potentially shaping the trajectory of Indian cricket in the near future