Former Team India cricketer VVS Laxman has highlighted one change in India’s playing XI for the second Test against England. The second of the five-match Test series begins on August 12 (Thursday) at the Lord’s in London.
Laxman believes senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should be part of the playing XI for the second Test irrespective of the weather forecast or the conditions at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The former cricketer believes Ashwin should come in for all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
Virat Kohli suggested India will stick with four seamers and one spinner in the rest of the series – bad news for R Ashwin? https://t.co/6YMgakmdbI #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/neXYeHqlAU
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 9, 2021
Despite Shardul’s good show in the first Test, VVS Laxman is convinced that India should bring back Ashwin for the second Test as he adds versatility to the Indian bowling attack and opens up more options for skipper Virat Kohli.
“I would definitely draft in R Ashwin into the playing XI. It will add depth to the Indian bowling and also versatility and different options to the captain,” Laxman told ESPN Cricinfo ahead of the start of the second Test.
“Irrespective of what the weather forecast or the conditions, R Ashwin is a more than capable bowler. He is skillful enough to perform, not only perform but to put in a match-winning performance and put pressure on the English batters,” the former India batsman added.
Incidentally, Ravichandran Ashwin was surprisingly left out of the playing XI of the first Tets in Nottingham with India favouring all-rounder Shardul Thakur. The cricketer from Mumbai impressed in the series-opener and picked up four wickets across the two innings but VVS Laxman’s vote went for the veteran off-spinner.
Virat Kohli wants to give more responsibilities to Shardul Thakur: VVS Laxman
Though he insisted India should include Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI for the second Test, VVS Laxman believes India want to give more responsibilities to Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder going ahead.
“I think it is very clear that Virat Kohli wants to give a lot more responsibility to Shardul Thakur. I thought, even though he did not get runs with the bat, I thought in the limited opportunities he got as a bowler, he’s got some important wickets,” said Laxman.