The third Test between England and India will be played at Trent Bridge from August 18.
Team India has come under severe criticism from all quarters for their performance in the Lord’s Test which they lost by an innings and 159 runs to England, after getting bowled out for 107 and 130 in the two innings. Captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri were taken to task for playing two spinners at Lord’s despite the rain and for having enough practice matches and net sessions in between the Test matches.
Injuries have also hurt the Indian team badly as they missed two of their most potent bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah due to a back injury and broken thumb respectively. However, with Bumrah seen bowling in the nets during practice, the Indian team management is seeing silver linings in dark clouds for the next Test.
The opening combination of KL Rahul and M Vijay might survive the failures of Lord’s Test to be given another chance at Trent Bridge. M Vijay, who bagged a pair, might get another chance based on his reputation as being the best opener India has. KL Rahul too is expected to be given a chance thanks to his inexperience in England conditions.
Ajinkya Rahane, despite his loss of form, was one of the best batsmen last time around for India and hopes are high from him to gain some form and help Kohli bring India back into the series.
His replacement might be the young Rishabh Pant, who had done well on the A tour to England. He has shown that he has matured over the years both as a keeper and as a batsman, his aggressiveness must bring some positivity into the Indian team down the order. Pant, along with Hardik Pandya might be just the adrenaline rush Team India requires to negate the Anderson and Broad pair.
Partnering Bumrah might be Mohammad Shami, who bowled brilliantly in the Lord’s Test and along with him; Ishant Sharma is likely to play the role of the workhorse.
India needs to win this Test to remain alive in the Test series and have to pick the best of the bunch they have.
COC Predicted Indian Test XI for the Trent Bridge Test:
M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma