England vs India: Virender Sehwag raises pertinent question with a tinge of humour
Sehwag presented his perspective with regards to the team selection for the Lord's Test.
Former Indian captain and dashing opener Virender Sehwag has raised a pertinent question over India’s playing XI ahead of the crucial second Test at Lord’s starting August 9 though with a tinge of humour something he is known for. Sehwag asked the fans whether India shouldn’t play Cheteshwar Pujara at Lord’s since England were also likely to play Ollie Pope there.
Sehwag made a relevant cricketing point through a humour suggesting a ‘religious’ alignment between Lord’s, Pujara and Pope. 20-year-old Pope, who has been a sensational run-getter in County Championship Division One this season, replaced Dawid Malan in the England squad for the Lord’s Test. England were also set for a forced change since their all-rounder Ben Stokes is scheduled to attend a court hearing over a brawl in Bristol last year. Chris Woakes replaced him in the squad.
Pope Pujara and Lords
“Pope likely to play for England, Should India play Pujara in the second test. ? After all it’s Lords,”
The Indian team management came under criticism for leaving Pujara out of the playing XI and accommodating three openers in the side with KL Rahul coming in to bat at No.3 in Birmingham. The move did not pay off as any of the three batsmen could deliver in either of India’s two innings and the visitors slumped to a 31-run defeat in the match. The reason behind Pujara’s axing could be his ordinary average in the county season this year but now, it seems Shikhar Dhawan could be made to sit out to give Pujara a slot in the top order.
Only captain Virat Kohli scored runs in the first Test, including hitting 149 in the first innings and following it up with a 51 in the second.
India’s team selection overseas has come under scrutiny in the past well as well. In their previous Test series played in South Africa this year, the team management’s decision to play Rohit Sharma ahead of Ajinkya Rahane, also the vice-captain in first two Tests, annoyed many. That decision also did not pay off then and India lost the matches.
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