5 Indian Players Who Might Be Benched Throughout The England Series

India will be looking to make a big statement in the five-match test series against England after losing out to New Zealand in the finals of the ICC World Test Championship. They will be looking to make changes in the playing XI as playing two spinners in English conditions isn’t ideal and they will need another seamer.

India has travelled with 20 players in the squad alongside five reserve players and hence, they will have plenty of options to chose from. They have backup options for each and every role in the idea but some players might not get an opportunity throughout the five tests. Here are 5 players who might be benched throughout the England series.

5 Indian Players Who Might Be Benched Throughout The England Series:

Wriddhiman Saha:

Wriddhiman Saha is not the first choice wicketkeeper option for India anymore and the 36-year veteran is unlikely to get a game in the five-match test series against England unless Rishabh Pant has an injury. Pant’s phenomenal run of form in all formats has made it inevitable to left out of the playing XI and Saha will have to wait.

Saha’s numbers in overseas games haven’t been that great too and his career batting average of 29.1 is not going to help the Indian team at the moment in tough English conditions. However, Saha has one of the best wicket keeping techniques and is brilliant behind the stumps which keeps him in the fray still.

Washington Sundar:

The Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar has had a bright start to his Test career and he used the opportunities in the absence of injured Ashwin and Jadeja in the previous test series to establish his skills in the side. However, he will now be considered as a backup option for Ashwin in especially, English conditions.

Sundar wasn’t in the 15 member squad that was announced ahead of the World Test Championship and he will have to wait to get back his name in the playing XI. Sundar has played a couple of important knocks down the order already in the 4 tests he has played and the 21-year-old still will have to improve on his bowling lines in tests.

Axar Patel:

The left-arm spinner Axar Patel was picked up for the England home series as a replacement for the injured Ravindra Jadeja and he did really well with the bat and ball in the limited opportunities he got to keep his place in the squad. Axar played 3 tests and grabbed 27 wickets at an average of 10.6 with four five-wicket hauls.

Axar was included in the 20 member squad to England post his impressive performances, however, with Ravindra Jadeja being back in the squad, it was always going to be hard for him to find a place in the playing XI. He will be seen as a backup option for Jadeja and is highly unlikely to get a game despite his heroics at home.

Shardul Thakur:

Shardul Thakur has been seen as a seam-bowling all-rounder who can be very handy with the bat down the order. He played an excellent hand in the Australia tour as a number eight batsman scoring an important 67 and he also was a regular wicket-taker with the ball.

Thakur has immense experience in domestic cricket for a long time with the Mumbai team and he has played just two tests so far. India already three frontline experienced seamers alongside Mohammad Siraj, and it is going to be very difficult for him to break into the playing XI.

Umesh Yadav:

Umesh Yadav is probably the unluckiest person in the Indian dugout at the present, as he has been in great form with the ball every time he has been included in playing XI and he looks a formidable pace bowler when he gets it right with the new ball.

Umesh has the ability to bowl those outswingers with the new ball and he is one of the great exponents of reverse swing with the older ball.

However, India might rather present an opportunity to Mohammad Siraj rather than him as the latter is loaded with confidence and will bring a different variety in the bowling attack. Umesh might not get a game until two of the frontline pacers go out of form or get injured.