India made three changes to the playing XI for the second Test.
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management, and Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur have been replaced by Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, respectively.
As a result, three all-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy – are featuring in the lineup along with three specialist bowlers – Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
India failed to defend a 371-run target in the series opener at Headingley. Consequently, the bowling unit faced backlash from the experts and commentators.
The Indian team management has now come under the scanner for resting Bumrah in this Test after going 1-0 down in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. There were also murmurs of displeasure in most corners due to the non-inclusion of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav as well.
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Here’s how the cricket fraternity reacted to India’s playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Here are the reactions: