Despite drawing the Old Trafford Test against England brilliantly, the Indian team is looking for the ideal playing-11 in the fifth Test. The final Test of the five-match series will be played at The Oval from July 31. The Indian team management may make changes in the bowling combination. Questions are being raised about the decision to leave out a pure bowler to give depth to the eighth order in batting.
Shardul's form is a matter of concern.
Shardul Thakur, who was included in place of the injured all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, is also being criticized for bowling only 11 overs. Shardul has also failed to show strength in bowling in this series. The opposition batsmen are playing his bowling easily. After more than 600 runs for the first time since 2014, the claim of left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav to be included in the final XI has become stronger. Chinaman Kuldeep is considered a wicket-taking bowler, but in this series, he has remained a net bowler for the last 40 days.
Anshul failed to make an impression.
Young fast bowler Anshul Kamboj, who was ineffective in his debut Test, can be rested in the fifth Test, and Akashdeep or Prasidh Krishna, who have regained fitness, can be taken in his place. Like Kuldeep, the left-arm fast bowler, who remained a mere passenger in this tour, has also recovered from his hand injury now. His dream of a Test debut for India can also be fulfilled. Although Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has said that all his bowlers are fit, it cannot be denied that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj are tired.
Kuldeep's claim is strong.
By resting Shardul, four pure bowlers can be taken. Now this fourth bowler can be Kuldeep because the pitch at the Oval can help spin, or a fast bowler can be taken. The Indian team management has itself admitted earlier that they want to take Kuldeep in the playing eleven, but are unable to do so due to batting till number eight. Bowling coach Morne Morkel had said that we are looking for a way for Kuldeep, but for this, our top six batsmen will have to perform well consistently.
Arshdeep may get a chance to debut
Kuldeep is a world-class bowler and is also bowling well at the moment. Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also said that he is unable to understand why batting is being kept till number eight for some extra runs while a bowler like Kuldeep is sitting out, whereas he can also contribute something as a batsman. If Shardul, Anshul, Bumrah, and Siraj are all out, then Kuldeep, Akash Deep, Arshdeep, and Prasidh Krishna can get a chance.
Jadeja-Sundar can play in the top-6 in the absence of Pant.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were the architects of the memorable draw in Manchester, can be brought into the top-6 in batting due to the injury of wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant. If the same order is adopted at the Oval, then wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel can be brought in to bat at number seven. One more thing that may be worth watching is finding a solution for the wicketkeeper.
If Rahul is ready for wicketkeeping, then Karun Nair can also be played, but Rahul has been part of the team for all four Tests, and he will also be tired. Also, he has not done wicketkeeping in this format for a long time. In such a situation, the team management would not want to take the risk. Also
Playing-11 can be like this: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep/Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh/Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Anshul Kamboj.
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