NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket team has not yet finalized its playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh, which starts on Friday in Kanpur. The decision on the team’s spinners and pacers will depend on the pitch and weather conditions.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir inspected two prepared pitches at Green Park stadium. The team management is considering the possibility of including a third spinner, depending on the weather conditions on the first day of the match.
Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar indicated that the final decision would probably be made just before the toss, given the forecast of rain on the first and third days.“To be honest, I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet. Both the pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet,” Nayar was quoted as saying by PTI during Thursday’s pre-match press conference.India used two spinners and three pacers in the first Test in Chennai. However, considering Kanpur’s conditions might favor spin, the team is contemplating the addition of a third spinner. Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav could join Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja if they decide on this change.
Nayar did not confirm whether Kuldeep would play in his home state. “With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting when we turn up in the morning. A lot will depend on that because, as you know, in Test cricket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays,” Nayar stated.
All players are fit and available, Nayar confirmed. “It is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur,” he added.
