India’s anticipated playing XI for the second Test against England in Vizag.
India’s anticipated playing XI for the second Test against England in Vizag
India will seek to even the five-match series when they face England in the second Test, which begins on Friday, February 2, in Visakhapatnam.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will miss the second Test due to injuries incurred in the series opener.
Virat Kohli, who withdrew from the first two matches before the rubber, is another significant omission. Change seems unavoidable for India.
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Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar (Middle order)
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will miss the second Test, while Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have recently struggled. This has given India some selection questions to think about.
The think tank is expected to preserve trust in Gill and Shreyas, two players with enormous potential.
And, unless they are ready to go in with just four bowlers, the management will be able to select only one of Sarfaraz Khan or Rajat Patidar.
Patidar was in the squad before Sarfaraz and has been in fantastic form recently, so he might be higher up the pecking order. He could bat at No. 3 or No. 4, and Gill is having to adjust to his new position.
KS Bharat and Axar Patel will play pivotal roles in the middle order. While the former performed admirably in the first Test, the latter will have a heavy workload in Jadeja’s absence with the ball.
In Jadeja’s absence, India’s best hope may be to play Washington Sundar as a comparable alternative.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav (Lower order)
Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah are certain to play in Vizag. While Bumrah’s workload will need to be regulated and the turnaround between the first two Tests is short.
There is enough of a break before the third Test to suggest that he should be fit to play.
Mohammed Siraj bowled only 11 overs in the first Test, and with another turner on the way, he might be replaced by Kuldeep Yadav, who stood out during the pre-match practice sessions.
The left-arm wrist-spinner will play a vital role against England’s powerful batting order. Saurabh Kumar has been added to the team, although he may be relegated to the bench for now.
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