Former Indian cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Deep Dasgupta have suggested a couple of changes each for Team India ahead of the second Test against England, is scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on Wednesday, July 2. While the top and middle-order batters performed well at Headingley in the series opener, India’s bowling fell short as England chased down a 371 in the final innings.
Former Indian wicketkeeper Dasgupta backed Kuldeep Yadav to be included in the playing XI, considering the match conditions.
“Looking forward to Birmingham, where it’s usually a batting friendly venue, I would love to see Kuldeep there,” Dasgupta said on JioHotstar.
Dasgupta believes that India’s batting unit is already performing well, which allows them to strengthen the bowling attack by bringing in Kuldeep in place of Shardul Thakur.
“And now the advantage of having your top five amongst runs is that you’re not too worried about contributions from your No.8 with the bat. So I think that would help someone like Kuldeep to play at No.8 and not worry too much in terms of how much he’s going to contribute with the bat,” Dasgupta said.
Dasgupta also suggested promoting Karun Nair to No. 3 in the batting order, which would open up a spot for Nitish Kumar Reddy, an all-rounder who can contribute effectively with both bat and ball in the lower order.
“Get Karun Nair (at No. 3),” Dasgupta continued. “Because Karun Nair has got most of his runs (at that position). We keep talking about first-class careers and all of that at No.3. And also, he batted for India A against the England Lions at number three,” Dasgupta said.
“That opens up a space for someone like Nitish at No.6, who, if required, can give you a few overs of seam up. He’s been working very hard on his bowling. So you also have a fourth seamer,” he concluded.
Manjrekar agreed with Dasgupta’s suggestions on both changes and emphasised that India needs quality bowlers to succeed in English conditions.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy, he was included in my side for the first Test. And Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I’m sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out,” Manjrekar said.
“India will have to take a hard call that even in English conditions, they go with quality bowlers and if the quality bowlers happen to be two spinners, go for it because you don’t quite have the luxury of a Shami and some of the other bowlers to pick from. So I would go maybe one seamer short and get Kuldeep Yadav in,” he added.
Manjrekar pointed out that English summers have become drier in recent years, which could allow India to include an additional spinner in the playing XI.
“English summers these days are generally dry summers because of global warming. So you know maybe it’s a way to introduce spin in England. And let’s not forget, Ben Stokes has completely changed his thinking and made it common-sense cricket thinking. We have to go back to those days when India would play three spinners no matter what, whether it’s New Zealand or England,” he concluded.
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