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Ex-England Player Urges India To Drop Shardul, Bring X-Factor Bowler For 2nd Test

Debashis Sarangi

Shardul Thakur is in the firing line [Source: AP]Shardul Thakur is in the firing line [Source: AP]

Former cricketer Monty Panesar has urged India to make several key changes for the second Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Led by Shubman Gill, India had a torrid start to the tour, losing the opening Test at Headingley by a convincing five-wicket margin. 

Panesar Asks India To Exclude Shardul And Bring Kuldeep In Edgbaston

Following India's disastrous defeat, Panesar stated that the visitors might rope in Kuldeep as their X-factor for the second Test. 

The former left-arm spinner reckons the pitch at Edgbaston generally offers some turn, which Kuldeep can exploit if the Indian think tank shows trust in his abilities. 

"At Edgbaston, India could probably play (Ravindra) Jadeja and could actually go for the X-factor spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. We know that the Edgbaston wicket does turn a little bit. So you have that bit of an X-factor, which I think would be a better option. There's something about him," Panesar was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

In 13 Tests, Kuldeep has bagged 56 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls, at an average of 22.16. 

Additionally, Panesar believes India should refrain from playing Shardul Thakur if the bowling all-rounder can't contribute at least fifteen overs a day to the team. Thakur, who made his Test comeback after a long hiatus, looked lacklustre at Headingley, managing only two wickets and conceding 89 runs at an abysmal economy of 5.56. 

"If Shardul Thakur is only going to bowl six to eight overs and not give you 15 overs in the day, there's no point in playing him," Panesar added. 

If India drop Shardul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was impressive as an all-rounder in Australia, will likely make his comeback. On the other hand, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna might also face the wrath of the management following his ordinary returns in the first Test.