Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul will miss the second Test against England, scheduled to commence on February 2 in Visakhapatnam.
To reinforce the squad, the Indian team has included middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, and all-rounder Washington Sundar.
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The absence of Jadeja and Rahul, coupled with Virat Kohli's earlier withdrawal due to personal reasons, poses a significant challenge for India as they aim to recover from their 28-run defeat in the first Test.
What is Ravindra Jadeja's injury?
Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during the fourth day of the first Test in Hyderabad, while Rahul experienced pain in his right quadriceps, as confirmed by the BCCI.
Jadeja's notable contributions in the first Test, both with the bat and ball, make his absence a substantial setback. With the uncapped Rajat Patidar likely to replace Rahul in the middle order, finding a suitable replacement for Jadeja's versatile skills will be a crucial decision for the Indian team.
According to the Times of India, Rahul has injured the same right thigh which sidelined him for around four months and forced him to undergo surgery in Germany.
Meanwhile, Jadeja's injury could rule him out for multiple tests.
"Rahul could perhaps return later in this series, but Jadeja's injury could be more serious. Lets' see what the NCA's medical team tells us," a BCCI source told TOI.
According to reports on February 4 from RevSportz, it appears that Jadeja could potentially be ruled out of the series entirely, along with fast bowler Mohammed Shami. This would mean an injury layoff of close to a month for the all-rounder, as the final Test against England begins in March in Dharamsala.
Who could replace Ravvindra Jadeja?
Since 2016, Ravindra Jadeja has showcased exceptional all-round capabilities, maintaining an impressive average of over 40 with the bat and under 25 with the ball in 53 Test matches. Washington Sundar emerges as a potential replacement due to his ability to bat at No. 6 or 7 and provide finger spin bowling. However, there are concerns about Sundar replicating Jadeja's formidable workload of nearly 44 overs per home Test.
Sundar's previous four Tests, with the latest in 2021, highlight his batting prowess with three fifties and a remarkable average of 66.25. However, his bowling figures, accumulating only six wickets at an average of 49.83, raise questions about his effectiveness as a frontline spinner.
Considering the need for a frontline spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, known for his attacking left-arm wristspin, is a likely candidate to replace Jadeja. Despite an excellent Test record, claiming 34 wickets at an average of 21.55, Kuldeep has faced limited opportunities in India's lineup due to the presence of Jadeja and Ashwin, featuring in only eight Tests since his debut in 2017.
Which players have been called up for the 2nd Test vs England?
The BCCI has called up three players to replace Jadeja and Rahul in the 2nd Test. They are:
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Washington Sundar
- Sourabh Kumar
Mumbai batsman Sarfaraz Khan receives his maiden international call-up and has been rewarded for his scintillating performances for Mumbai at the domestic level as well as India A. In the recent game against England Lions, Sarfaraz smashed 161 runs off just 160 balls.
Many will wonder that an international call-up has long been overdue for the 26-year-old batsman.
Washington Sundar is already capped in red-ball cricket, featuring in four Tests. Given Jadeja's injury, he is likely to make it to the Indian XI as he is the most experienced of the three replacements.
In the game against England Lions, he picked two wickets and scored a half-century. Sundar's good form might guarantee him a place in the XI for the 2nd Test.
Coming to the third replacement, Sourabh Kumar, the 30-year-old bowling all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh has been in good form for India A. He has been knocking on the doors for some time now.
In India A's most recent game against England Lions, Kumar picked up six wickets (including a fifer) and scored a handy 77-run knock coming in at No.8.
Revised India squad for the 2nd Test vs England
Here's the full updated India squad ahead of the 2nd Test vs England:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubman Gill
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer
- KS Bharat (WK)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Mukesh Kumar
- Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
- Avesh Khan
- Rajat Patidar
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Washington Sundar
- Sourabh Kumar