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Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has suggested three changes in Shubman Gill-led side's playing XI for the fourth Test at The Old Trafford, Manchester, starting July 23. Pathan wants the team management to bench 33-year-old Karun Nair who hasn't scored a half-century since his return and bat Sai Sudharsan at no.3. The reason behind Pathan leaving out Nair is not for his lack of big scores but England bowlers being more comfortable bowling to Indian right-handers.
“One factor will be whether they persist with Karun Nair, who has played some good innings. The runs haven’t come. No big score has come. His highest has been 40. But it didn’t look like he was struggling. If someone is struggling, then yes, you can bench him. But I believe Sai should be played. The logic is that he’s a left-handed batsman. And from what I’ve observed, the England team has bowled better to right-handed batsmen than to left-handers. That’s how it looked to me. They haven’t bowled as well to lefties,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
On July 21, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the five-Test series due to a knee injury. In addition, Arshdeep Singh has been ruled out of fourth Test due to a thumb injury.
Jurel to keep if Pant can't don gloves
Pathan does not want a pacer or an all-rounder to replace Reddy. With Rishabh Pant injuring his finger during Lord's Test, the former left-arm pacer feels Dhruv Jurel should walk into the playing XI. However, he wants Jurel to minimise on extras via byes.
“Rishabh Pant is also injured. But let me tell you, I’m in favour of Rishabh Pant playing as a batsman. If Jurel comes in as his replacement, the issue is that the Indian team really likes his batting, and he’s an exciting talent. You’ll remember that 90-run knock he played in a Test match in India. Anyway, I think he will bat well whenever he plays. But in wicketkeeping, Jurel will have to be careful. In the last match, there were a lot of byes on the leg side. That blind spot needs improvement. He has to keep that in mind. He did take a good catch, but there were too many extras in the last Test, and that made a big difference," said the Baroda-born cricketer.
Krishna over Kamboj's debut
Pathan wants Washington Sundar to bat at no.8. While he lauded Anshul Kamboj, he wants Gill to back the experienced pacer Prasidh Krishna to return to action.
“Akash Deep had bowled really well earlier, and now he has to be replaced. Just straightaway play Prasidh Krishna, man. Anshul Kamboj has come in. Arshdeep is also injured. So, I feel there shouldn't be too much thinking in this. Even if Prasidh is still looking for his rhythm, when it comes to an important match, you tend to go with experience. And this is a very big, important match,” he said.
“When Anshul Kamboj comes and plays in the playing XI, I have no doubt he will perform well. I like his action. I like his upright seam. I had spoken about Akash Deep too when he hadn't played in England, and he did well. Similarly, I feel Anshul Kamboj will also do well when he plays. But right now, going with experience is better for India, and that is Prasidh Krishna,” he added.
Irfan Pathan's India playing XI four Manchester Test -
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
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