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Sidhu's Surprise Picks: India's Pace Attack for Oval Test
28 Jul
Summary
- Navjot Singh Sidhu's suggestions for India's bowling lineup without Jasprit Bumrah
- Rishabh Pant ruled out of fifth Test, N Jagadeesan to replace him
- Sidhu believes Ravindra Jadeja should bat at number five
As the fifth and final Test between India and England approaches, former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu has shared his suggestions for the team's composition, particularly in the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, who was slated to play only three of the five Tests, may opt to sit out the final match due to the short turnaround. Sidhu believes that in Bumrah's absence, India should go with a pace attack of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, along with the inclusion of spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Sidhu also feels that Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur should make way for Kuldeep, as he believes a spinner could be effective on the "rock-hard wicket" at The Oval, especially on the third and fourth days of the match.
Additionally, Sidhu has proposed a reshuffling of the batting order, suggesting that Ravindra Jadeja should bat at number five, with Dhruv Jurel as the wicketkeeper at six, followed by Washington Sundar at seven. This, according to Sidhu, would give India a stronger batting lineup and the best chance of leveling the series.
The series currently stands at 2-1 in favor of England, and India will be aiming to level the scores in the final Test. This will be the first Test series for the team without the services of senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have all retired from Test cricket prior to the England tour.
Sidhu believes that if captain Shubman Gill can lead the team to victory at The Oval and level the series, it will be a great tribute to the three retired stalwarts, as it would show that the new generation is "getting better than the previous one."
