India is all set to take on England in the 5th Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. After the disappointing news of Rohit Sharma’s unavailability, the Indian team will look to settle the team. Here’s a preview of what to expect from the India-England Birmingham Test.
Both teams have announced their squads for this much-anticipated match. There are sure to be some exciting encounters on the field. Be sure to follow all the actions from this crucial test match right here on our website.
Captaincy options for India in absence of Rohit Sharma
India will be without the services of star batsman Rohit Sharma for the upcoming Test series against England. Sharma, who is currently the captain of India, has been ruled out of the series due to COVID-19.
This presents a bit of a conundrum for the team management, as there are not many options available. The most likely candidate would be vice-captain Jaspreet Bumrah, who has never captained India in Test matches before. Other options include the wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jaspreet is probably the safest option as captain, as he has experience leading the bowling group. Pant is a risky choice, as he is not known for his level-headedness and tends to be somewhat inconsistent with the bat. Pujara is another option, but he is more suited to batting at number three and may not be comfortable taking on the added responsibility of captaining the side.
The final decision will ultimately come down to what the Indian team management feels is best for the team. They will have to
Probable opening pairs for India
There is no clear-cut opening pair for India at the moment. With KL Rahul injured, Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal are the only two options available to the team management. However, both of them are inexperienced and have not played much Test cricket.
It will be interesting to see who India opens within the Birmingham Test. Will they go with the experienced but out-of-form Rahul, or will they give the youngster Shaw a chance? Only time will tell.