After losing the Hyderabad Test against England, India clawed back emphatically with wins in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot to take a 2-1 lead with two matches left. Ahead of the Ranchi Test, Wisden India writers pick their preferred XI.
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With Jasprit Bumrah, the most successful bowler of the series so far (17 wickets at 13.64), rested for the fourth Test to manage his workload, India have a void to fill. Mukesh Kumar, who was released before the third Test, has been recalled after the impressing with his career-best ten-for in the Ranji Trophy in the interim.
Jasprit Bumrah has taken 16 wickets at 13.64 in the series so far.
A boost for England.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/BsKzmoaXug
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Akash Deep and Mohammad Siraj are the other seam bowlers in the squad, while Axar Patel could also be picked as an extra spin-bowling option. It leaves India with lots of options and a hard task balancing them all.
Here’s what the Wisden India writers picked:
Abhishek Mukherjee
Wisden India head of content
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Padikkal’s 105, 65, and 21 for India A helped him earn a call-up to the Indian squad, and he followed that with 151 and 36 from No.3 against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. India may want to give him a Test cap, leaving out Rajat Patidar, who looked out of sorts in his two Test matches. In Bumrah’s absence, Axar is the likeliest to come in case the pitch is a rank turner, which will boost the batting as well. If it is not, Mukesh is likely to play as the second seamer ahead of Akash Deep, his junior paceman at Bengal.
Atri Sanfui
Wisden India staff writer
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar
Except for Bumrah, no other pacer from either side finds a place in the top seven of the highest wicket-takers list in the series, emphasising how brilliant he has been. Given India’s consistency in playing two pacers across the three matches, unlike England, Mukesh will likely come into the XI as a straight swap for Bumrah. While the series numbers stack up against the selection and Mukesh struggled in the second Test, what’s favourable is his recent form.
The rest of the XI doesn’t need a rejig as Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel are expected to build on their excellent starts to their Test careers in Rajkot. KL Rahul’s prolonged unavailability due to a quadricep strain gives Patidar another chance to prove himself in the format.
Shubham Pandey
Wisden India social media manager
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Akashdeep, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
My India XI for the fourth Test in Ranchi is a relatively straightforward decision. Axar will replace Patidar, and Akashdeep will come in for Bumrah. While there is no shame in admitting Bumrah is irreplaceable in any format he plays worldwide in any condition, the decision to rest him for the fourth Test, combined with the anticipation of a pitch conducive to spin and uneven bounce, has influenced my choice.
I have selected Akashdeep because he boasts a touch more pace than Mukesh and can aggressively target the stumps. He also has some notable batting contributions in domestic cricket, which I believe could offer support to the team if needed.
Bringing in Axar for Patidar is primarily driven by my desire to provide the captain with an additional spin-bowling option in the absence of India’s premier fast bowler. Although it may be a tough call for Patidar, but I believe that Axar could prove to be India’s most effective spinner in the conditions at Ranchi. I don’t foresee any more changes being necessary for Team India, aside from these changes.
