India, aiming to level the Test series after losing the first match, faces England in the 2nd Test at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. Despite a strong position in the first innings, India faltered against Ollie Pope’s 196. Compounding the setback, key players Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul are injured and ruled out. England also adjusts as Jack Leach is now unavailable, prompting changes to their winning combination.
Let us have a look at the probable XIs of both sides:
Patidar sets to make his debut:
The Madhya Pradesh middle-order batter is all set to replace KL Rahul. Patidar is gifted with timing and can play long innings as well. Patidar was also seen sweeping the likes of Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin in the practice sessions ahead of the game. The 29-year-old in first-class cricket has made 4000 runs at an average of 45.97 with 12 centuries and 22 half-centuries.
Replacing Jadeja poses a challenge for India, yet Sundar emerges as a viable option. His dual proficiency with the bat and ball was evident in his crucial 62 at Gabba, forming a valuable partnership with Shardul Thakur. Sundar’s sound technique and composed temperament were on display. In the 2021 India vs England series, he showcased his batting prowess with a stylish 85 in the first Test in Chennai.
Toss-up between Siraj and Kuldeep:
India predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajat Patidar, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav.
England predicted XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir.
