IND vs ENG 2nd Test: India Could Go Spin Heavy With Rahul Chahar, Bring In Mohammed Siraj

Cricket Image for IND vs ENG 2nd Test: India Could Go Spin Heavy With Rahul Chahar, Bring In Mohamme (Mohammed Siraj (Image Source: IANS))

The 227-run loss in the first Test to England may prompt the Indian team management to make changes in the bowling line-up. But with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja out injured due to a fractured thumb, India still has a tough task to pick the XI, especially their fourth and fifth bowlers.

On a pitch expected to be dry and slow, India may dish out four spinners, including all-rounder Washington Sundar who could play as a specialist batsman.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and off-spinner Sundar, the fourth and fifth bowlers, had copped criticism from the India captain, Virat Kohli, for leaking too many runs in the first Test.

While Sundar may still play because of his batting ability - he made 85 not out in the second innings and could possibly be pushed up the order, Nadeem is likely to be left out.

On Wednesday, the Indian cricket board released a video of Axar Patel bowling at the nets. The left-arm spinner was expected to be a direct replacement in the first Test for Jadeja as he could also bat besides bowling left-arm spin. But he had to miss out due to a knee injury.

Axar's inclusion will provide India's bowling some variety, something the team wanted in the first place as Kohli pointed out while explaining the reasoning in calling up Nadeem from the reserves ahead of Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who is in the squad for the first two Tests. Nadeem could take the ball away from right-handed batsmen unlike Yadav who would bring his stock ball in like R Ashwin and Sundar.

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