Gargi Raut in Edgbaston
The second Test between India and England is only a few hours away and the Indian fans are still unsure of the playing XI that will step out on the field at Edgbaston. Throughout the buildup to the all-important second Test, the practice sessions and press conferences left us with more questions than answers. One of the most pivotal changes that had a cascading effect on the team selection was Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management. And from the two practice sessions it became evident that Bumrah is unlikely to take part in the second Test.
Bumrah likely sitting out of the match leaves the bowling unit without a solid wicket-taker and the management will have to come up with at least two wicket-taking options to make up for the absence of the premier bowler. While Kuldeep Yadav’s name kept cropping up as a strong suggestion, Washington Sundar stood out as the frontrunner.
Ryan Ten Doescathe in the press conference on Match-Day -2 – one that left everyone in the room puzzled – said, “There is a likelihood of having two spinners in the team. All three bowlers have been bowling well, but Washington is batting really well in the nets.” This statement from the assistant coach was later backed by the skipper, Shubman Gill when he said, “Having two spinners in the team would not be a bad idea,” in the press conference yesterday afternoon at Edgbaston.
The question remains as to will the second spinner be a solid, wicket-taking option in Kuldeep or will the think-tank go in with a batting cushion with Sundar in the mix? Not only that, who will make way for the extra spinner to come in? Since we are anticipating at least two changes, the players likely to sit out are Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur who will then be replaced by Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington/Kuldeep respectively.
Now, here’s the twist. In the practice sessions leading up to the Leeds Test match, the slip cordon gave the ultimate hint about who was going to make it to the Playing XI. This time around—Karun, KL Rahul, Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Nitish were in the intense slip practice that lasted close to 20 minutes. But why would Karun be a part of the slip cordon in the match-day -2 practice session if he wasn’t in the scheme of things? Or did the Indian think-tank have a change of heart? In the second, optional practice session Gill and Sudarshan had a longish slip catching session with Sudharsan at first slip and the skipper at second. The mystery continues.
With Bumrah sidelined, the onus of providing crucial breakthroughs falls squarely on the spinners’ shoulders, making the selection between Kuldeep and Washington all the more significant. Birmingham’s fairly warm conditions are expected to offer Kuldeep the kind of assistance that complements his craft, he’s proven time and again that even on less-than-ideal surfaces, he can extract sharp turn and trouble batsmen.
As Gill pointed out in the press conference, the challenge with playing two spinners lies in managing their impact early on, especially on the first day when conditions might not be as favourable. The lingering question remains: Does Washington possess the wicket-taking prowess necessary to justify his spot, or will the team bank on Kuldeep’s proven ability to break partnerships? The final XI is still shrouded in uncertainty.
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