India Playing XI vs England in 3rd Test Match: Virat Kohli Should Drop Dinesh Karthik and These Two Players To Bolster India's Winning Chances at Trent Bridge
Come Saturday, India will need to make amendments in their line-up to increase their chances in the third match. Will skipper Virat Kohli make the necessary changes?
The third Test match between India and England will take place at Trent Bridge, in Nottingham, from Saturday. India is currently 0-2 down, and nothing seems to be going in their favour at the moment. The team’s batting line-up has failed to put up a fight, too. India would be taking more negatives than positives, going into the third match.
The underperforming batsmen have undone all the hard work done by the bowlers. Skipper Virat Kohli would need to take some tough decisions, in context of team selection, ahead of the Test match at Trent Bridge.
Given how the players have performed in the first two Test matches, the Indian think-tank will have to make some necessary changes in the side. By how they have played in the opening two Test matches, the following players should sit out in the next game, to bolster India’s chances in the Test match.
1. IN: Shikhar Dhawan, OUT: KL Rahul
KL Rahul looked a different player in the white jersey. He has not able to carry his limited-over format into the longer form of the game. In the four innings that he has played in, Rahul has scored 4, 13, 8, and 10. It is not only the low scores that go against him, but also the manner in which he has been getting dismissed.
On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan hadn’t had a good start to the series as well. He was dropped after failing in the first match where he made 26 and 13. India had to drop him to accommodate Pujara to his usual number 3 slot, with KL Rahul opening the innings.
India should bring in Dhawan and not tinker with the pair anymore, given the fact that KL Rahul is struggling too. With Dhawan’s aggression and Vijay’s calmness, India would be able to solve their top order woes.
2. IN: Rishabh Pant, OUT: Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik had a great run in India's domestic circuit and also help India win the Nidahas Trophy single-handedly. Other than that Karthik hasn't looked in great since then. In the Test series too, failure to read incoming swinging deliveries has led to his freak dismissals.
On the other hand is, Rishabh Pant. Someone who has excelled in the English conditions with India A team. Someone who has the reputation of playing aggressively in any given situation. With Karthik lacking lustre and Saha in rehabilitation mode, it will be the right time for India to blood a younger player in the senior team.
If he performs, it will be a big plus for the Indian team. If he fails to deliver, it will be a high learning curve for the young player who is tipped to be one of the strong contenders of being India's regular wicket-keeper.
3. IN: Jasprit Bumrah, OUT: Kuldeep Yadav
With a heavy heart, the Indian team will have to continue with Hardik Pandya in the third match, given the reputation of assisting seam and swing bowling, the Trent Bridge has. India cannot play two spinners, and with R Ashwin striking form in overseas conditions, Kuldeep Yadav will have to make his way out.
It was a goof-up by the Indian team management during the selection of second test match where he was made to play in fast-bowling friendly conditions. With Jasprit Bumrah fit and available for selection, he should be brought in instead of Kuldeep Yadav. With Ishant and Shami, India lacked the support of the third seamer in the second Test match.
As for Pandya keeping the place in the side, it is mainly because of these two reasons. Firstly, the conditions at Trent Bridge favours his credentials. Secondly, India should give him a long rope before dropping him after a couple of failures.
Come Saturday, India will need to make amendments in their line-up to increase their chances in the third match. It will be interesting to see what players does skipper Virat Kohli fields during the match. Stay tuned with us for all the latest updates on India vs England Test Series 2018!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2018 09:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).