Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar picked the best playing XI for India for the second Test according to him. The first Test between India and England ended in a draw after the final and decisive day of the match got washed out.
Manjrekar, in a discussion on Sony Sports, doesn't have a different top-order for India from their first Test. He named Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for the opening spot, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara at number three.
ALSO READ: ENG v IND 2021: WATCH- Manjrekar’s opposite reactions to Virat Kohli’s expressions to two reviews
"Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will be my openers. At No. 3, I will want to play Pujara. We didn't get to see a lot of his batting in the second innings but I will still want to play him," he said.
Manjrekar went ahead with skipper Virat Kohli at number four and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane for the fifth position in the batting order. But unlike the first Test, he preferred a specialist batsman Hanuma Vihari in the side.
"Then Virat Kohli will be No. 4, Ajinkya Rahane No. 5. A slightly controversial selection because I will like to get a specialist batsman at No.6, some depth in the batting because two or three batsmen are out of form and the ball moves a little as well in England," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator has Rishabh Pant as the wicket-keeper batsman but he wants him to bat at number 7. "I feel if Rishabh Pant comes at No. 7, he can prove even more dangerous and can play very well with the tail-enders. I am playing Vihari because in the last Test match he played, he batted for 2.5 hours to save India," Manjrekar opined.
India's all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was missing from Manjrekar's eleven for the second Test. He would like to play R Ashwin in the next Test along with three fast bowlers from the first Test.
"I will like to bring in Ashwin, who I feel was dropped wrongly in the first match. I am bringing a bowler who has greater chances of taking wickets on a good pitch. I will play three seamers - Shami, Bumrah. I don't know if Ishant is fit but I will go with Siraj because he has the capability to take five wickets," he said.
The second Test at Lord's will be played from August 12. Team India is most likely to continue with the same playing eleven.
