Former India player Aakash Chopra believes Karun Nair may return to the Indian team’s playing XI for the fifth Test against England. He suggested that the visitors may wish to play an additional batter due to Rishabh Pant’s absence, with Shardul Thakur perhaps being left out as well.
The last Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is set to begin at The Oval on Thursday, July 31. Pant has been ruled out of the game after suffering a fracture in his right foot during the previous Test in Manchester.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener predicted that Nair would be back in the visitors’ playing XI at The Oval.
“I don’t see anyone else other than Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 for the time being. He scored a half-century in the first innings as well. I want one more batter to play, because if Shardul Thakur doesn’t play, then you obviously would want another batter.”
Aakash Chopra
“Who can be that batter? To be fair, it can be Karun Nair only because you are not going to play Abhimanyu Easwaran at No. 6. Since Rishabh Pant is not there now and Dhruv Jurel is there, you definitely need one more batter. So you might see Karun Nair playing again.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra believes Karun Nair would bat at No. 5, with Dhruv Jurel, who is expected to replace Rishabh Pant in the XI, batting at No. 6. He also mentioned that Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar can bat at Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, in such a scenario.
Aakash Chopra Hints at Arshdeep Singh’s Inclusion for Series-Deciding Test at The Oval
In the same video, Aakash Chopra said that Arshdeep Singh could play his first Test, with either Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj potentially resting.
“Arshdeep Singh might make his debut. Bumrah’s availability is not known. The coach said all bowlers are available, but there is a possibility that Bumrah might not play, or else Bumrah plays and Siraj doesn’t. No one talks about Siraj’s workload. Maybe it is time for us to give him a break.”
Aakash Chopra
While observing that Akash Deep may return to the XI and Shardul Thakur is unlikely to be retained, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are nearly unstoppable.
“It’s also been heard that Akash Deep can return. He is looking fit and available. I don’t see Shardul Thakur playing. There is a very strong case for Kuldeep Yadav. However, can you play three spinners? If you are not going to play three, can you drop either Jaddu or Sundar? I don’t think you can actually touch Sundar and Jadeja right now.”
Aakash Chopra
In summary, Aakash Chopra posed the question of how India will fit in Kuldeep Yadav in the XI provided one of Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja is not left out. According to him, it would be a little too much to play three spinners in England.
