NEW DELHI: The Indian team’s playing XI for the second Test against England has sparked a wave of debate among cricket experts, with former captain Sourav Ganguly leading the criticism. The inclusion of three fresh faces — Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep — raised eyebrows, particularly in the spin department, where Kuldeep Yadav was overlooked despite favourable conditions.
India went into the Birmingham Test without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, and many had expected Kuldeep Yadav to be drafted in, especially considering the conditions and his form. However, the team management opted for Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as the two spin options — a decision that didn’t sit well with several former players.
Speaking during the Tea break on Day 1 of the match, Sourav Ganguly expressed doubts about the team’s spin combination. “I’m not sure whether India are playing their two best spinners. This is India’s best chance to put runs on the board, but I’m surprised by some of the selections,” Ganguly said.
His comments were echoed by another legend of Indian cricket, Sunil Gavaskar. Also speaking on the broadcast, Gavaskar said he was baffled by the omission of Kuldeep. “On a pitch like this, where there’s a bit of turn expected, I don’t understand why Kuldeep wasn’t picked. If your top order isn’t scoring, players like Washington at seven or Nitish Reddy at eight won’t fix that. The problem isn’t with the batting — India made over 830 runs across two innings in the first Test. The issue is in the bowling department, which needs strengthening,” Gavaskar said.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also added his voice to the criticism, particularly over the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah. “He’s fit and should be playing. I don’t think a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre should be given the choice to sit out such a crucial Test,” said Shastri.
India’s struggles in the Test format have deepened in recent months. With just one win in their last nine matches since October last year, the team is currently going through its worst phase in over a decade. The loss in the opening Test at Leeds, where England chased down the target with five wickets to spare, has only intensified scrutiny over team selection and strategy.
As Shubman Gill leads the team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, the pressure is mounting on both players and selectors to find a winning combination. The decision to overlook proven match-winners like Kuldeep Yadav and to rest key players like Bumrah in a crunch situation is raising serious questions among cricket watchers and fans alike.
With the series hanging in the balance, the team’s choices for the remainder of the Tests will now be under even more intense scrutiny.
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