IND Vs ENG: Selection Headache For Kohli Ahead Of 3rd Test, Will Ashwin Make It To Playing XI?

IND Vs ENG: R Ashwin has not got a chance to play in the first two Tests. It is not an easy decision for skipper Virat Kohli to keep Ashwin out of the playing 11.

(File Photo)

IND Vs ENG: The third Test of the five-match series between India and England is scheduled to be played from today. Team India seems to be caught in a new difficulty ahead of the third Test. Despite winning the Lord's Test, it is not easy for Indian captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri to choose the playing 11. 

The biggest problem for Virat Kohli is regarding the bowling lineup. All four fast bowlers have done well for India at Lord's. Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj managed to pick up 19 out of 20 wickets in the Lord's Test. 

India had given Ishant Sharma a chance in the playing 11 due to an injury to Shardul Thakur in the second Test. But now Shardul Thakur is fully fit. Captain Kohli doesn't know which bowler to drop to give Shardul Thakur a place in the team.

Very difficult to keep Ashwin out 

India has not given their star spinner R Ashwin a chance in this series so far. Dropping a player like Ashwin is not an easy task for any captain. Team India is giving preference to Ravindra Jadeja because of his batting. Jadeja is doing wonders in batting but he has been disappointing on the bowling front. Despite this, Jadeja could also get a place in the playing 11 in the third Test.

India players in the current Test squad yet to get a chance in this series:

R Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, A Easwaran, Axar Patel, Wriddhiman Saha, Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, SK Yadav

Which of these players do you think will get an opportunity at some point?#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/iSLUmOOGoV

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 24, 2021

Team India is also troubled by the poor form of its veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Anjikya Rahane. However, in the second innings of the second Test, both the batsmen have managed to play crucial innings. Suryakumar Yadav is now available for selection after completing the quarantine period. It is also difficult for Virat Kohli to give Surya Kumar Yadav a chance to make his debut by showing either of these players the way out. 

Probable Playing XI, India: 

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj