I don't see Umesh Yadav in the playing XI for the pink ball Test: Gautam Gambhir

We are just one day away from the much-awaited Pink ball Test match that will take place at Ahmedabad from 24^th February 2021. Both India and England enter the third Test with a win apiece, and will be looking to take a lead in the series when the third Test commences at Ahmedabad.

Another interesting thing to ponder ahead of the third Test is the playing XI that India would opt for. Umesh Yadav has returned back to the Indian Test squad. The right arm pacer had sustained an injury to his calf in the second Test against Australia at Melbourne last year, but has now fully recovered from the injury.

However, former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir feels that Yadav will not find a place in the playing XI for the third Test. According to Gambhir, India’s three seamers for the Pink ball Test would be Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Gambhir opined that Siraj was very impressive in his debut series in Australia, and also added that even though there was nothing on offer for the fast bowlers in the second Test at Chennai, the right arm pacer was getting the ball to move and was even clocking impressive speeds.

“I don’t see Umesh Yadav in the playing XI. If India has to go with three seamers, it has to be Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Siraj looks very impressive and the way he bowled in Australia, even the way he bowled in the second Test match, there was nothing for the fast bowlers but the way he was getting the ball to move and the kind of speeds he was clocking, he was very impressive. So, these three seamers according to me will play the pink-ball Test match,” said Gambhir in a chat on the show Cricket Connected.

England needs to play really well: Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir also felt that the England side needs to play well as India have got the fast-bowling resources to trouble the England willow wielders. The 39-year-old added that the likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel can rattle England. While Ishant would be playing his 100^th Test at Ahmedabad, the likes of Bumrah and Siraj are in very good rhythm according to Gambhir. Gambhir concluded by stating that Ashwin has returned back to his run scoring ways with the bat as well.

“England needs to play really well because India has got the fast bowling to actually trouble England. With the kind of batting they [England] have, Ishant Sharma on the verge of playing 100 Test matches, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj looks in very good rhythm plus Ashwin back in form with the bat, Axar. So, India has got the bowling attack to rattle them,” concluded Gambhir.