Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar has revealed his preferred Indian playing XI for the first Test match against England, set to begin on June 20 in Leeds. His team selection has raised eyebrows, as he left out two senior all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur, from his starting lineup.
Sanjay Bangar’s Playing XI Leaves Out Big Names
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While speaking on Star Sports’ show ‘Game Plan’, Bangar shared his team, which includes a mix of experienced players and some fresh faces. Here is his chosen XI:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (No. 3)
- Shubman Gill (No. 4)
- Rishabh Pant (No. 5)
- Karun Nair (No. 6)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (No. 7)
- Kuldeep Yadav (No. 8)
- Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah (Seamers)
This lineup clearly excludes both Jadeja and Thakur, who are part of the 18-member Test squad for the England tour.
Nitish Reddy Over Shardul Thakur
Bangar explained why Nitish Kumar Reddy was picked over Shardul Thakur. He said:
“I see Nitish as a batter who can bowl. I can’t see him as a bowler who can bat. However, Nitish starts in my team ahead of Shardul. Shardul doesn’t play in my first XI. Nitish Reddy will play first.”
Let’s compare their stats:
Nitish Kumar Reddy: 298 runs (avg 37.25), 5 wickets (avg 38.00) in 5 Tests
Shardul Thakur: 331 runs (avg 19.47), 31 wickets (avg 28.38) in 11 Tests
Though Thakur has more experience, Bangar believes Nitish offers better balance as a genuine batter who can contribute with the ball.
Kuldeep Over Jadeja: A Big Spin Call
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According to Bangar, India should play Kuldeep Yadav instead of Jadeja when going with only one spinner during the England tour.
“It will be a condition-based call on whether you would play one spinner or two spinners. Whenever the Indian team wants to play one spinner on this tour, I feel it should be Kuldeep Yadav because there is a huge question about the fitness of your trump card, Jasprit Bumrah.”
Kuldeep has been consistent in Tests:
56 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 22.16
Bowling Strength Is Key, Says Bangar
Bangar highlighted how India’s loss in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy wasn’t just due to poor batting but also due to weak bowling.
“That’s why I would want the Indian team to strengthen their bowling. Yes, the top order didn’t score runs in Australia, but another huge reason for India’s defeat was the lack of penetration in bowling. So you will have to go with solid bowling as well.”
He believes India should not compromise on bowling strength, especially in English conditions where matches can change quickly.
Series Prediction: No Draws, Just Results
Bangar made a bold prediction for the upcoming series:
“I don’t think any Test in this series will end in a draw. India will win 3-2.”
He expects an intense, result-driven series with both teams pushing hard for victory.
Also Read: ICC Hall Of Fame: List Of New Zealand Cricketers
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