Following India's defeat in the first Test against England, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has suggested a change in the bowling lineup for the second Test, urging the team management to consider dropping Mohammed Siraj. Manjrekar believes either Prasidh Krishna or Kuldeep Yadav should take Siraj's place in the upcoming match.
Manjrekar highlighted Prasidh Krishna's performance in the first Test, noting that Krishna appeared to be a more effective bowler towards the end of the match. He emphasized the importance of considering current form when making selection decisions. While acknowledging Siraj's seniority and past performances, Manjrekar argued that Krishna's current form gives him an edge. Siraj managed to take just two wickets in the first Test, while Krishna claimed five.
Manjrekar also suggested the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav, citing England's struggles against wrist spin as a key factor. Another former India batter, Subramaniam Badrinath, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh should be included in the playing XI to add variety to the bowling attack. The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav could provide a different dimension to India's bowling attack, exploiting England's potential weakness against wrist spin.
The decision to potentially drop Mohammed Siraj is a tough one, given his experience. However, Manjrekar insists that such hard calls are necessary, especially when considering the team's overall balance and the current form of the players. With Jasprit Bumrah's workload management also a concern, the team management needs to carefully assess its options to ensure they have the best possible bowling attack for the second Test.
India's defeat in the first Test was attributed to batting collapses and dropped catches, in addition to the bowling performance. To bounce back in the series, India needs to address these issues and make strategic changes to their lineup. The second Test is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham.