After suffering a defeat in the Chennai Test, myriad questions have been raised about the playing XI of Team India. Considering the recent performances of the players, I think some changes can be made in the bowling department for the second Test match.
Axar Patel is now fit and has also practised in the nets. This is a good sign. In the playing XI, I think he can get a chance in place of Shahbaz Nadeem, as Patel is running in a good form. The second major change I see happening is the inclusion of the spinner Rahul Chahar.
Of course, Washington Sundar has scored lots of runs in Brisbane and Chennai, but keeping him in the team is a very negative approach, chiefly because he is a spinner. The job of a regular spinner of the team should be to take the wickets first. It’s a good thing if he scores runs, but not to forget the real forte of Washington Sundar is his bowling, where he is evidently lacking. Keeping a spinner, who does not deliver, in the team, is beyond my understanding.
Rahul Chahar is a wrist spinner and he can prove to be more useful in the team. Moreover, it is strange that the team management does not put their trust in Kuldeep Yadav, as he has been also overlooked for the Chennai Test. If the team management finds any deficiency in Kuldeep Yadav`s bowling, they should convey it to the selectors, as he has not been placed in the touring squad for a picnic. This evidently shows the seeming lack of coordination between the selectors and the team management.
Nevertheless, I do not understand the fact as to why Yazuvendra Chahal is not in the team. He is an excellent leg-spinner and has also proved his ability in ODI and T20I cricket. His ability can be used in Test Cricket also. Being young, talented, and energetic, he can also prove to be a prime and attacking asset in Test cricket. Since he is not a part of the Test team right now, I think it is good to either replace Washinton Sundar with Rahul Chahar or else show confidence in Kuldeep Yadav.
As far as the batting line-up is concerned, I feel that Mayank Agarwal is not being given enough space to perform. When he was first introduced in Australia, he impressed the selectors with his brilliant performance. However, he has been sidelined now and kept out from the playing XI. This is not the right move. As a matter of fact, how Rohit Sharma is performing is not hidden from anyone, but despite all this, I do not think that Rohit will be excluded or thrown out for Mayank.
Virat Kohli’s captaincy is also being severely criticised for losing the last four consecutive Tests. However, I do not consider it appropriate. We should remember that Virat Kohli is the most successful captain of Team India. At such a time, questioning his captaincy reflects people’s negative thinking.
The author has played 35 Test matches as a left-arm spinner for Team India and is currently a cricket expert. Views expressed are author’s own.