The Indian home season began in an emphatic manner when Ravichandran Ashwin’s all-round heroics led towards a 280-run hammering of Bangladesh in the first Test. The caravan now moves to Kanpur, where we could expect some low bounce and turn, something that was missing in Chennai.
India to tweak Playing XI for 2nd Test
The combination of 3 pacers and 2 spinners is what both teams went ahead with at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium last week. However, the Kanpur surface is expected to be a much slower one. It will contain black soil, unlike the first Test, which was made of the red-soil.
Given this, Rohit Sharma is definitely going to drop one pacer. India went with all three of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in Chennai. But who is going to sit out in Kanpur? Well, ideally it should not be Bumrah, who has got enough break in the lead-up to the Bangladesh Tests. Moreover, after these Tests, he will have another 15-day break before the 3 Tests against New Zealand kicks in.
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Akash Deep > Mohammed Siraj in IND vs BAN 2nd Test?
It might come as a surprise but we think Akash Deep should ideally partner Jasprit Bumrah in the Kanpur Test, starting from September 27. Although Siraj is considered the second-choice pacer after Bumrah, his recent form has not been that menacing. In the 15 international matches that he has played this year, Siraj has averaged almost 33, which is his career-worst in a year with 3 matches or more.
Although Siraj’s vigour and enthusiasm to run in and bowl long spells is unquestionable, even he needs some rest. Unlike Bumrah, Siraj played the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Moreover, he is also a certainty for India’s long season ahead. If not injured, Siraj will definitely be part of the Indian team till July 2025, a period that will include the India vs New Zealand series, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Champions Trophy, WTC Final, and the Test tour of England.
Akash Deep deserves his spot!
It is not just that Siraj needs rest and hence Akash Deep should play. The Bengal pacer has done phenomenally well in the opportunities he got. After a wicket off a no-ball that derailed his celebration on his debut, Akash Deep has never failed to impress. Although he has played just two Tests, his zip and extra bounce have startled opposition batters, accounting for five wickets at an average of 24.4. Even in the Duleep Trophy opener, he mustered 9 wickets at a superb strike rate of 27.00.
On a slow track in Kanpur, Akash Deep’s hit-the-deck bowling could well turn out as an X-Factor. While Bumrah will keep bluffing the Bangla batters with his variations, the 27-year-old can turn the heat up with his pace and awkward bounce.
