Bumrah Dropped for 2nd England Test as India Make Bold Call to Include Nitish Kumar Reddy

Indian team management showed up to three changes in the playing eleven of the second test match against England where Akash Deep came in place of Jasprit Bumrah. India had previously been defeated 5 wickets to 1 in the first test game of the series in Leeds.

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Friday India captain Shubman Gill announced that 27-year-old fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah could be picked during the second test on Tuesday before the presser. However, following the advice of majority of the experts, including former head coach of India, Ravi Shastri, who had cautioned that this could actually cost the visitors, the current management chose to sit out the 31-year-old as a bid to have him manage his workload, and hence remain fresh and fit in order to play in the third match at the Lord.

In the replacement of Bumrah in the playing XI, Akash Deep was picked. "Just to manage his workload. We did get a good break and this is an important match for us. But the third Test being at Lord's, we think there'll be more in that pitch so we'll use him there," explained Gill after losing the toss.

It is a massive risk by India, given that Bumrah became the lone fast bowler to challenge English batsmen in Leeds where he captured a five-wicket maiden, but the other fast bowlers failed to find the length. Even the experts were critical of the failure of support in the two inning.

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India callously dismissed Sai Sudharsan who had opened in Leeds, and played at No. 3, dropping him to include another all-rounder in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy to provide depth to the pace-bowling attack. This means that Karun Nair will bat high up the order.

India went ahead and made another playing XI change i.e. in place of Shardul Thakur went Washington Sundar. Although Kuldeep Yadav was projected as the candidate to fill that position, particularly with the speculations that Bumrah may be rested during the Test at Edgbaston, Gill said that Sundar was included to bolster the lower-order batting unit especially after its collapse contributed largely to the defeat of India at Headingley.

"We were tempted to play Kuldeep but looking at the last match, our lower order didn't do well, so decided to add some depth to the batting," he said.

In Birmingham, taking the toss, England decided to bat first.

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

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