IND vs ENG 2nd Test Playing 11: Who makes the cut -Kuldeep, Washy or Reddy?

India Playing 11 prediction: An extra spinner - be it Sundar or Kuldeep - would come into India's Playing XI at the expense of pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur

India are set to make at least one change in their Playing XI for the second Test, which starts on July 2, against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

 

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said in a press conference that India are all but ready to field two spinners, despite the 11 mm grass on the pitch, two days before the start of the second Test.  Check India vs England 2nd Test Day 1 live score, full scorecard and match updates here

 

"There is a very strong chance of playing two spinners. It's just which two we play. And that goes back to the previous question about juggling the batting depth. All three spinners are bowling very nicely."

 

"The wicket's got 11 mm grass on at the moment—11 or 12 mm. But it's quite grassy and patchy. It's quite dry underneath. But there's also rain forecast for Wednesday. So again, trying to weigh up the two options of how we want to go attacking-wise. But I'm pretty sure two spinners will play in this Test." 

 

Who will be the second spinner in India's Playing XI?

 

While experts want wicket-taking bowling options in the XI, the latest one can gather from India's net session is that Washington Sundar is likely to pip Kuldeep Yadav to find a place in India's Playing XI.

 

Kuldeep Yadav

There was a lot of focus on Sundar during the India practice session on Monday. He bowled extensively alongside senior spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

 

Sundar bowled to Indian top-order batters and then worked on his batting against throw-down specialists in the central net, taking occasional breaks before resuming his batting practice.

 

According to net session indications and head coach Gautam Gambhir's preference for fielding an all-round option in the Playing XI, India might go with Sundar.

 

Washington Sundar

Why picking Sundar ahead of Kuldeep could backfire?

 

Twenty-five-year-old Sundar's selection could backfire given there is only one left-hander in the England Playing XI. England's right-handed batters could hit Sundar's off-spin through the line, as he is not regarded as a bowler who can generate much turn.

 

Meanwhile, Kuldeep, with his left-arm leg break, could prove effective against the English batters despite their aggressive style.

 

No place for Nitish Reddy if India field two spinners

 

If the Indian team management decides to go with two spinners, then in all likelihood, the star attraction from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Nitish Reddy, will warm the benches.

 

Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy

Why India can't play two spinners and Nitish Reddy in the Playing XI?

 

There have been whispers that Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the second Test to manage his workload. In that case, India will certainly field a pacer, not an all-rounder, as that would not sufficiently strengthen the bowling department, which failed to take 20 wickets in nearly 200 overs in the first Test. 

 

Meanwhile, an extra spinner — be it Sundar or Kuldeep — would come into India's Playing XI at the expense of pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

 

However, if India fit in Nitish Reddy, then they would have to drop either Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair from the Playing XI.

 

"Nitish is very close to getting a game. Obviously, he was fantastic in Australia. We just felt, on balance, for the last game, we wanted to go with the bowling all-rounder, and thought Shardul was slightly ahead on the bowling front. We’re looking at ways of rejigging the puzzle so we can get a batting all-rounder in. And obviously, Nitish is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment," Doeschate said in a press conference.