Advertisement
India finds itself at a pivotal juncture following a humbling 28-run defeat to England in Hyderabad, prompting a critical assessment ahead of the second Test in Visakhapatnam starting on February 2. Ben Stokes’ England, displaying an assertive Test cricket approach, secured a remarkable victory, marking India’s fourth home Test loss in 47 matches over 12 years.
England’s triumph was fueled by Ollie Pope’s resilient century and Tom Hartley’s debut brilliance with the ball. India’s costly drops of Pope added to their struggles in the series opener, leading to captain Rohit Sharma expressing disappointment and emphasizing the need for quick learning from mistakes.
While Ben Stokes hailed England’s fantastic performance, considering it their greatest triumph under his captaincy, he stressed the importance of encouraging team members without fearing failure. As both teams prepare for the second Test, India faces challenges with injuries, with Ravindra Jadeja and K.L Rahul ruled out.
Advertisement
Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar, and Washington Sundar have been added to the squad. The team management’s handling of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer is under scrutiny, and Rajat Patidar might receive his maiden Test cap to bring fresh dynamics to the lineup.
Kuldeep Yadav, seen bowling in the nets, might replace Ravindra Jadeja, offering a spin-bowling option. India might opt for a single-pacer bowling option with Patidar and Washington both added to the XI. If Sundar replaces Siraj, he could become the fourth bowling option and a left-handed batter to tackle English off-spinners.
England faces challenges with Jack Leach’s absence due to a knee injury. Shoaib Bashir, in contention for his debut, missed the opening Test due to visa delays. Ravichandran Ashwin needs four wickets to join the exclusive list of bowlers with 500 Test wickets.
If Sarfaraz Khan makes his debut, his impressive first-class average of 69.85 could bring a strong batting presence to the Indian lineup. England has seen success with debutant spinners in recent times, and the inclusion of Shoaib Bashir adds intrigue to their bowling attack.
Teams:
India (Probable XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar, Axar Patel, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj/Washington Sundar
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson
-IANS
