On the eve of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, India captain Shubman Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were seen in an intense discussion, coupled with a pitch inspection, pointing to major selection decisions ahead of the match. As soon as the pre-match press conference ended, Gill headed straight to the centre, joined shortly by Gambhir and Agarkar. The three stood near the 22-yard strip for an extended period, closely studying the surface and having what looked like a serious discussion. The session hinted at the importance of the pitch conditions in finalising India’s playing XI for the crucial Test.
While England have already named an unchanged XI following their win in Leeds, India are expected to make changes, more so if star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is rested as part of workload management. In such a scenario, the nature of the Edgbaston pitch could be the deciding factor in India’s team combination. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also hinted at changes. “I am very sure two spinners will play,” he told reporters on Monday. “Which ones, we are not sure yet. All three are bowling nicely. Washi (Washington Sundar) is batting really well too.” The visuals of Gill, Gambhir and Agarkar at the pitch showcased a leadership group deeply involved in tactical planning ahead of a must-win Test.
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Which spinner should India select for the match?
India trail 0-1 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, and with conditions in Birmingham expected to assist both seamers and spinners, selection calls made on match eve could well define how the match and ultimately the series unfolds from here.
