HIGHLIGHTS

• India take on England in the 2nd Test of 5-match series at Lord’s
• India will be without Shardul Thakur, KL Rahul to continue opening
• Stuart Broad ruled out, England fretting over James Anderson fitness ahead of 2nd Test

Virat Kohli had hinted that India are likely to persist with a 4-1 bowling combination after it worked well in the series opener in Nottingham against England. India dropped R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma, two of their most senior players, to get their balance right with a pace-bowling all-rounder in the XI.

However, the injury to Shardul Thakur in the lead up to the 2nd Test has put the spotlight once again on Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri as they are hoping to get their team combination right. India went in with 4 pacers, including Shardul, and played Ravindra Jadeja as their only spinner. Mohammed Siraj was picked ahead of Ishant Sharma.

India were able to get all 4 pacers into action in their first innings as England were bundled out for just 183. When they came out to bat, India had two all-rounders in Jadeja and Thakur and it was the former who got the team to a competitive total with a quickfire fifty after KL Rahul’s 84.

While Kohli had said the conditions would dictate their combination, 4-1 looked the way forward. However, with Shardul not being available for the 2nd Test, it remains to be seen if India would still opt for 4 pacers. Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav might come into the picture but both of them are not going to offer what Shardul can with the bat.

Has Shardul’s injury paved way for Ashwin comeback?

However, on the eve of the 2nd Test, Kohli made it clear that India are not going to look for batting skills when deciding the replacement for Shardul Thakur. Ashwin, who was dropped for the first Test, might come into the picture but if Lord’s has a green tinge on Thursday morning, India are likely to consider 4 fast bowlers.

“Yes, Shardul brings in more batting ability but having said that from the batsmen’s point of view, we are well placed because (Cheteshwar) Pujara, Jinx (Ajinkya Rahane) and myself we didn’t score too many,” Kohli said on Wednesday.

STAT ALERT

India at Lord’s – Played 18, Won 2 (Last win in 2014)

Virat Kohli at Lord’s – 65 runs in 4 innings across 2 Tests

As Kohli concedes, India need more runs from their Big 3 if they are to have faith in playing 4 frontline pacers in the team. While enough has been spoken about the India captain’s dry run in Tests, Pujara and Rahane have been struggling for consistency since the memorable tour of Australia earlier this year.

Vice-captain Rahane’s form since the match-winning hundred in Melbourne last year has been a concern. He has scored 268 runs in 8 Test matches at an average of just over 20 runs. On the other hand, Pujara has gone past the 20-run mark only twice since returning from Australia earlier this year.

India team news: Likely XI for Lord’s Test

Meanwhile, KL Rahul is likely to retain his place at the top of the order along with Rohit Sharma despite back-up opener Mayank Agarwal training with the rest of the team in the lead up to the 2nd Test. While Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are likely to retain their places, it will be interesting to see if Ashwin or one of Ishant and Umesh get a berth in the XI.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has got the backing of his captain and he is set to retain his place after that quickfire 24 in Nottingham.

Injury woes for England

While England lost Ben Stokes before the start of the series, Stuart Broad being ruled out of the remainder of the series is a huge blow to the visitors. Moeen Ali has been recalled to the squad but all eyes will be on James Anderson as he is believed to have picked up a tight quad in the lead up to the 2nd Test. Mark Wood and Saqib Mahmood are likely to make the playing XI if England lose both their big quicks.

On the other hand, England’s batting has been their biggest cause of concern. Haseeb Hameed, who is heading into the series on the back of big runs at the domestic level, might replace Zak Crawley. Captain Joe Root will be hoping he finds batting partners who can step up and deliver and ease some pressure off him.

Squads, England vs India, 2nd Test at Lord’s

India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav.

England: Joe Root (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood