6 selection questions for Gautam Gambhir ahead of IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test

24 hours to go for the IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test, but there are a lot of question marks in India’s Playing XI. While the biggest puzzle is Jasprit Bumrah’s availability, India head coach Gautam Gambhir will also need to take a call on other spots. As things stand, India might take bold calls early in the series instead of waiting longer after losing the Leeds Test.

While Bumrah seems to be a last-minute call based on conditions, Gambhir must decide on the second spinner. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that the plan is to go with two spinners in Birmingham. While Ravindra Jadeja, despite his recent stats in SENA countries, is likely an automatic choice, the fight is between Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar for the second spot. Another big call will be regarding Shardul Thakur. Will Gambhir give up on Shardul after just one match in favour of Nitish Reddy? What about the third seamer? Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep – who will come in if Bumrah is rested?

Sai Sudharsan stays on?

The Tamil Nadu youngster has played just one Test, scoring a duck and 30. But a change in batting combination could force Gambhir to drop Sai Sudharsan. If India look to add both Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, either Sudharsan or Karun Nair must be dropped to make space. If both stay on, it could be Ravindra Jadeja.

Will India drop Ravindra Jadeja?

If India stick to both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, the only option is to drop Ravindra Jadeja if Gambhir wants to bring in both Reddy and Sundar. In 14 matches over the last five years in SENA countries, Jadeja has bagged 23 wickets at a strike rate of 90.6. With the bat, Jadeja has managed 622 runs at an average of 29.61. However, his century in Edgbaston and three fifties. But barring that century in Edgbaston, his contribution with the bat hasn’t been great.

While India were looking for wickets in Leeds, Jadeja bowled a defensive spell. He came back with just one wicket, going at 4.30 economy rate. That wasn’t defensive bowling. His recent dip in form could prompt Gambhir to look at Washington Sundar to serve the same purpose.

Mat	Inns	Overs	Wkts	Best	Avg	Econ	SR
14	22	347.3	23	4/62	43.08	2.85	90.6

Nitish Reddy over Shardul Thakur?

There was a confusing selection in Leeds. With Shardul Thakur bowling just 16 overs across two innings, it never made sense to have a bowling all-rounder. With the bat, Shardul contributed 1 and 4. That could prompt India to turn to Nitish Reddy, who is a batting all-rounder, after the double collapse in Leeds. Reddy can strengthen India’s batting and bowl 20 overs across two innings. Even though Reddy did not have extraordinary returns in the two warm-up matches, the team management could show faith in Reddy.

Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav?

Almost all the experts have picked Kuldeep Yadav in their India Playing XI. On a dry Edgbaston pitch, Kuldeep could bamboozle Ben Stokes’ bazballing batters. The chinaman worked with former England captain Kevin Pietersen at Delhi Capitals nets. He knows how to crack the bazball code. However, having Kuldeep ahead of Washington Sundar could mean weakening India’s batting. With Gambhir reluctant to further weaken India’s lower-order batting, Sundar may get the nod ahead of Kuldeep.

Jasprit Bumrah in or rested?

Since the 1st Test, there have lot of speculations on Bumrah’s availability in the IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test. Neither the captain nor the coach wanted to spill the beans. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed Bumrah’s availability, but he refused to confirm whether Bumrah would play in Birmingham due to workload management.

Bumrah was the only shining example of India’s bowling in Leeds. He bagged a fifer in the first innings. But he also bowled 43 overs, more than the three other pacers. Only Jadeja bowled more than him. With an eight-day rest between the two Tests, Bumrah is now well-rested and is likely to be available for the IND vs ENG Edgbaston Test.

India’s bowling in Leeds

Player	Inns	Overs	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Avg	Econ	SR
Jasprit Bumrah	2	43.4	140	5	5/83	28.00	3.20	52.40
Prasidh Krishna	2	35.0	220	5	3/128	44.00	6.28	42.00
Shardul Thakur	2	16.0	89	2	2/51	44.50	5.56	48.00
Mohammed Siraj	2	41.0	173	2	2/122	86.50	4.21	123.00
Ravindra Jadeja	2	47.0	172	1	1/104	172.00	3.65	282.00

Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep?

Now, let’s say Jasprit Bumrah is rested, who would come in as a replacement? If India go with three frontline seamers again, either Akash Deep or Arshdeep Singh would come in. But who would that be?

Arshdeep is yet to make his Test debut. But he could be India’s new ball bowler as he can swing both ways. Akash Deep is a seam bowler. If the weather conditions permit, India could go with Arshdeep if Bumrah is rested.