Former Indian batsman and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra believes that the Indian captain Virat Kohli should respect the conditions at Lord’s Cricket Ground and play two spinners in the second Test against England starting on Thursday (August 12) at Lord’s.
After the first drawn Test at Trent Bridge, Kohli hinted that India might go with the similar team composition – a four-pronged pace attack and the solitary spinner in the ongoing five-match Test series in England, but Chopra feels the skipper should play R Ashwin as another spinner in the line-up.
The Indian cricket team picked the solitary spinning all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja while four pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammad Shami in the first Test against England, and the bowling attack is likely to be the same for the second Test at Lord’s.
However, the commentator feels Kohli should play Ashwin and Jadeja together if the Lord’s conditions ask for the same while citing Moeen Ali’s return to the England squad for the second Test that hinted that the Lord's pitch might assist the spinners.
Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel, “Respect the conditions, if you have to play two spinners, do that. Ashwin and Jadeja - both are ready with you.”
He added, “Moeen Ali's name has come, he is a part of the English team now for the second Test match. This means the ball might turn there. So, their combination will also change slightly.”
The 43-year-old also pointed out that a lot of matches were played at Lord's and it would have made the pitch conducive to spin bowling so Kohli must rethink his team composition for the second Test.
Chopra signed off by saying, “A lot of matches of The Hundred are being played at Lord's, so it is possible that the pitch might be helpful for the spinners. But does that mean that the statement Virat gave that they will play with just one spinner, should he revisit his statement, perhaps yes.”
