On the eve of the second Test, England skipper Ben Stokes heaps praise on India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh; Shubman Gill keeps playing XI a closely guarded secret
India’s Rishabh Pant during a training session at Edgbaston on Monday. Pic/Getty Images
The England team is in a much better space ahead of the second Test, beginning here at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Having won the first game comfortably, they are following the axiom ‘If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’, and have decided to retain their playing 11 well ahead of the game.
On the other hand, India are set to make a couple of changes, but with captain Shubman Gill declining to reveal his cards on the eve of the match, speculation is rife about who those players could be. England captain Ben Stokes, at the pre-match media interaction, felt that the hosts had an advantage, being one-up. “That [win at Headingley] was last week. This is a new game, a new week, and it’s back to zero, with five long days ahead,” he said.
England captain Ben Stokes during a press conference yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI
‘Pressure’s always on India’
On a pointed question if the pressure was on the Indians, Stokes said: “The pressure on the Indian team is always more than any other side [due to intense media scrutiny and the expectations of the huge fan base]. But they play hard and are a very good team. We expect them to be at their best in this match too.”
Stokes singled out India’s explosive wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant as a clear threat after his twin centuries in Leeds. “Even though he [Pant] is in my opposition, I love watching him play. When you set a talent like him free, you saw what happens. Very dangerous player. I really enjoy watching him,” said Stokes.
Bowlers hold the key
The key to India winning the game is getting their bowling combination right, and that’s the area where there is so much speculation. It’s likely that the think-tank comprising Gill, coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar may be clear about their choices but do not want to reveal their cards. That has given rise to intense speculation.
Will it be Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav as the second spinner, will Nitish Reddy come in place of Shardul Thakur as a pace bowing all-rounder, and will it be Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep in case Jasprit Bumrah is rested for this match? When Gill was asked about the likely changes, he was non-committal, saying, “We will have one last look at the wicket in the evening and then decide the 11.” When he was nudged further, he said with a wily smile, “You will know the combination tomorrow.”
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