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Rohit Sharma To Drop Mohammed Siraj? India's Strongest Playing XI For 2nd Test Vs Bangladesh

India announced an unchanged squad for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh [X]India announced an unchanged squad for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh [X]

On Sunday, India announced an unchanged squad for the final Test of the ongoing two-match series against Bangladesh. Led by Rohit Sharma, India had an extraordinary start to their home season, steamrolling the Tigers by 280 runs in the series opener at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

Therefore, considering their exceptional outing in the game, the hosts decided to stick to the same team heading to the decider at Green Park in Kanpur. The second Test holds significant importance for Team India, as it will allow them to further solidify their chances of qualifying for the much-anticipated World Test Championship final. 

So, as Rohit Sharma's troops gear up for the decider, let's analyse and find out their most potent combination. 

Will India Drop Mohammed Siraj?

India's experienced speedster Mohammed Siraj couldn't live up to the expectations in the first Test in Chennai. Despite being given the new ball, Siraj looked less potent than the young Akash Deep, who utilised the conditions and bowled a magnificent spell in the first innings. 

Akash Deep's exceptional bowling even prompted Rohit Sharma to use him as a wicket-taking weapon against Bangladesh's gritty batting unit. He hit the seam and targeted the stumps more often than not, making himself a tricky customer with the red cherry. 

So, as the right-arm pacer was more impressive than Siraj, India might consider dropping the latter if they add a third spin-bowling option to their playing XI. 

Will The Pitch In Kanpur Force India To Play 3 Spinners?

Contrary to expectations, India and Bangladesh prioritised fast bowling in Chennai, keeping three pacers in their line-up. For this game, the hosts dished out a red-soil pitch, which had enough assistance for the pacers, particularly on the first two days. 

However, the black-soil pitch in Kanpur might force both sides to add an additional spin bowler to their line-up. The surface at Green Park in Kanpur is generally conducive to spin bowling, which is why India might consider replacing a pacer with a spinner. 

If such a swap happens, Mohammed Siraj could warm the bench, making room for either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav. Although Kuldeep's inclusion would ensure versatility in the Indian bowling attack, the hosts might be tempted to bring Axar in order to strengthen their vulnerable batting unit. 

However, we don't see any other major changes happening, with the hosts likely to persist with their core players for the decider.

India's Strongest Playing XI For 2nd Test Vs Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah