IND vs NZ 1st Test: No Bumrah & Shami, what will be India’s bowling combination? – Ajinkya Rahane will have to make a huge call as he prepares to lead India in the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur. With regular stalwarts, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami rested for the series, Rahane and Dravid will have to scramble for options, with options further depleted with the fitness concerns of Mohammed Siraj.
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IND vs NZ 1st Test: No Bumrah & Shami, what will be India’s bowling combination?
India have opted to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for the home Test series against New Zealand, following their exertions at the T20 World Cup. In their absence, Ishant Sharma is set to lead the attack, with the veteran pacer fit and fresh to bowl playing only a solitary format of the game. The same is the case with Umesh Yadav, who has found himself waiting on the wings for opportunities, and took it in the tour of England.
Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, India have a host of experience and skills to counter any conditions that could be on offer at the track in Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. Should Mohammed Siraj be fit for the Test series, he would likely replace either of the two, with Yadav most likely to drop out. Siraj was hit on his finger during the 2nd T20I against New Zealand and remains a doubt for the Tests.
IND vs NZ 1st Test: No Bumrah & Shami, what will be India’s bowling combination?
Any decision on the playing combination will depend on the surface, and India are likely to stick with five bowlers to balance out the XI. Ajinkya Rahane and coach Rahul Dravid will decide on whether to deploy three pacers or three spinners after assessing the conditions on offer. While 2 spinners and 2 pacers are all set to play, the decision on whether to opt for an extra spinner or pacer will be taken before the game.
Should India play 3 seamers, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav should feature, while PRasidh Krishna could be brought in should Siraj not recover from his injury. Krishna has been in and around the squad but is yet to make his Test debut. Should an extra spinner de deployed, India have the luxury of playing Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, while Jayant Yadav is also an option on the side.
IND vs NZ 1st Test: No Bumrah & Shami, what will be India’s bowling combination?
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