'India would play three spinners...' - Former India player wants surprising changes in playing XI for upcoming ENG vs IND 2nd Test

As India prepares for the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, July 2, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has called for bold changes to the playing XI. One of his major suggestions is dropping Shardul Thakur and bringing back wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Manjrekar believes India must shift from their usual fast-bowler-heavy setup and instead focus on quality, even if it means playing multiple spinners in English conditions.

India's batters had their moments in the first Test at Headingley, but their bowling unit couldn’t defend a sizable target of 371 runs in the fourth innings. Manjrekar feels that without Mohammed Shami in the mix, India's pace attack lacks depth and consistency. He specifically called out the performances of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, stating that apart from Bumrah, India doesn't have the same impact bowlers.

In Manjrekar’s view, India needs to make some tough selection decisions if they want to bounce back in the series. He stated clearly, “Nitish Kumar Reddy, I had included him on 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 Advocates Spin-Focused Strategy Despite English Conditions

Manjrekar emphasized the importance of picking the best bowlers, regardless of surface or location. “India will have to make 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.” He also mentioned the increasingly dry nature of English pitches due to global warming, which could support spin.

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“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,” Manjrekar added.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah's availability remains uncertain for the Edgbaston Test. While he was the standout performer in the first Test with a five-wicket haul, team management is cautious due to the tight schedule. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate noted, “He’s available for the game, but we haven’t made a final call yet. It will depend on conditions and how we plan for the rest of the series.” With India trailing 0-1, the second Test is crucial in the context of the five-match series.