Last Update on: July 20th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
While India registered a thumping win in the first Test, former batsman Aakash Chopra believes that the team management will make at least one change to the playing eleven for the second IND vs WI Test.
India began their tour of the West Indies with a big win over West Indies in the first Test in Dominica. India completely outplayed the beleaguered hosts and won the series-opener by an innings and 141 runs inside three days. West Indies were absolutely no match for the visitors as they failed to do well with both bat and ball.
With the bat, West Indies scored 150 and 130 runs in two innings while India scored 461 for 5 (declared). For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma struck centuries in the first innings while spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin picked up five and seven wickets in the first and second innings respectively.
Usually the teams don’t really tinker with the winning combination but Aakash Chopra believes Axar Patel is set to get a chance in the team for the second Test. The former cricketer-turned-commentator has said that the left-arm spinner will get the chance if the surface for the second Test is similar to the one in Dominica. He also stated that either Jaydev Unadkat or Shardul Thakur will have to make way for Axar.
“If you give a slightly greenish surface, suddenly the Indian team might also think whether they should play a fourth fast bowler although they won’t. I feel India will play with three fast bowlers only but for that also you need a green-top pitch,” Aakash Chopra said in the video posted on his YouTube channel.
“If it is a Dominica-like surface, the Indian team will play an extra spinner. You will definitely see Axar Patel playing if there is a similar dryness and slowness in the pitch. If Axar plays, the 20 wickets will be split, and you will see a tussle between the three spinners which was there only between two in the first Test match.
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“Then I feel only one of Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur will be played. If you see the last match’s performances, Shardul deserves to play but Jaydev bowls with the new ball. It’s a toss-up. If it is tail, then Shardul, and if it’s head, then Jaydev. You can play anyone,” added Aakash Chopra.
Aakash Chopra on India’s batting lineup:
Aakash Chopra also said that India are unlikely to make any change to their batting lineup, meaning the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and KS Bharat will continue to warn the bench.
“Is there any scope for a change in terms of the batting department? I feel there is no scope and I don’t see any change happening as well. I had definitely said originally that KS Bharat should be given a chance but you didn’t do that and you didn’t get Ishan Kishan to bat, so I don’t think there is going to be any change there,” said Aakash Chopra.
The second and final match of the series is scheduled to be played in Trinidad on Thursday (July 20).
