India veteran batter Karun Nair, who made his international comeback in the first Test match against England, will likely to miss his spot in the team's playing XI for the second Test, which is scheduled to start from July 2 at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. The batter failed to make an impact as he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and managed just 20 runs in the second, casting doubt over his place in the side. Sai Sudharsan, who made his Test debut against England, also failed to perform, scoring 0 in the first innings and 30 in the second, and his position in the team appears to be secure for now.
Team India likely to make 2-3 changes in playing XI for 2nd Test
India are expected to make two to three changes to the lineup for the second Test. Jasprit Bumrah may be rested, and all-rounder Shardul Thakur is likely to miss his spot as the India coach hinted at Nitish Kumar Reddy's inclusion in the playing XI. Team India will feature two spinners in the second Test, confirmed by Shubman Gill on the eve of the second Test, and this will force a massive reshuffle in the batting order. In this scenario, either Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair will have to make way, and current signs point to Nair being the one to miss out.
What Points of Karun Nair’s Omission?
During India’s final practice session on July 1, a significant hint came to light. Sai Sudharsan was seen fielding at first slip alongside captain Shubman Gill, a position previously occupied by Nair in the first Test. Sudharsan had practised catching in the gully on June 30, but on July 1, he spent an extended period taking slip catches, even switching positions with Shubman at times. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was closely observing the duo, further suggesting a potential change in the playing XI.
Which Spinners Will Feature?
If Bumrah is rested, Akash Deep is likely to be included in the pace attack, alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom played in the first Test. With Bumrah potentially unavailable, more responsibility will fall on their shoulders.
In the spin department, two spinners are expected to feature, but the final combination remains undecided. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar are the contenders. While Jadeja played in the first Test but didn’t have a major impact, Kuldeep is seen as a potential game-changer. If Kuldeep is included, India may look to deepen the batting lineup as well, which could lead to a toss-up between Jadeja and Sundar for the second spinner's slot.