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The Times of India

Sport

Dwaipayan Datta | TNN

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Team India may be tempted to play four spinners and a lone pacer on Vizag’s black-soil turner

Tom Hartley India England Krishnamachari Srikkanth Ollie Pope Ravindra Jadeja Vizag Axar Patel Bishan Singh Bedi KL Rahul

CHENNAI: The ‘spin quartet’. It’s an idea that evokes a sense of nostalgia and respect in equal measure if you’re an Indian cricket fan. But post the late 1970s, when Bishan Singh Bedi, BS Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan retired from the sport, India haven’t gone back to the formula. Now, however, there’s an air of desperation after England’s counter-attacking win in Hyderabad, following which the likes of Monty Panesar are now predicting a 5-0 win in favour of the visitors.

While one defeat can always happen, what’s going to bother captain Rohit Sharma going into the Vizag Test from Friday are the injuries to Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul.

Jadeja’s hamstring strain is a huge cause of concern for the Indian team because he is the lethal weapon, along with R. Ashwin, in the Indian spin attack. Axar Patel is more than decent in Indian conditions but it seems England have come with a gameplan for him.

Ashwin and Axar will obviously lead the Indian spin attack on another black-soil turner in Vizag, but former India captain and former chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels India should play the two other spinners — wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and offie Washington Sundar as well.

Washington was drafted into the squad on Monday after it was revealed that Jadeja would be out for a while. Srikkanth told TOI on Tuesday: “In the first Test, Siraj bowled a total of 11 overs without a wicket. On pitches like these, England have shown that four spinners can be played. What is stopping us from playing all four together as well?” That would mean Washington will be Jadeja’s replacement in the middle order while Siraj will make way for Kuldeep. “If India go in with four spinners, they will have all the variations at their disposal,” Srikkanth said.

The fact that Washington made an instant impact and played a huge role in India’s 2021 Test win at the Gabba is an indicator that he has the necessary temperament to shine on a stage like this.

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But another former Indian selector Devang Gandhi feels four spinners is a little too much, even on spin-friendly conditions. “You’ll invariably underbowl one. And I know the Vizag pitch, the ball will become rough and there will be scope for reverse swing. I don’t think it’s a good idea to limit yourself to Jasprit Bumrah as the only pacer,” Gandhi said, adding that Kuldeep for Jadeja should be the only change in the bowling attack.

Patidar or Sarfaraz for Rahul?

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan has got a sudden call-up after Rahul pulled out. He has been in great form, hitting 161 against England Lions a few days ago. “He is an out-of-thebox player, can play the reverse sweep and has been in great form. I think India need a player like that to throw the English spinners off their line and length,” Srikkanth said, adding that if he was in charge, he would have pushed for Patidar as well in place of Shreyas Iyer.

“Iyer isn’t scoring either. Maybe if he fails again, India will go that way after Virat Kohli comes back from his break,” Srikkanth said.