India vs Windies: Ajit Agarkar feels India will make one change in the second T20I

Team India will take the field in the second T20I of the three-match series against the Windies in Lucknow on Thursday. They are leading the contest by 1-0 after winning the low-scoring encounter at the Eden Gardens. Their bowlers orchestrated the victory in the series opener by restrctin the opposition for just 109 runs and will be looking to do the same in this game. However, the former India paceman Ajit Agarkar feels that the hosts India are likely to bring back leggie Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Umesh Yadav for the second T20I in Lucknow.

Chahal had been left out of India’s last two limited-overs matches, while his spin-twin Kuldeep Yadav has done exceptionally well. Playing at the Eden Gardens, which is also his IPL home ground, the chinaman went home with a 3-for and ensured the Windies were never let off the hook. The hosts did fumble in the chase but were eventually guided home by Krunal Pandya and Dinesh Karthik.

If India do bring in Chahal, they would be playing with three spinners including left-armer Krunal Pandya who delivered a useful spell on Sunday. The leg-spinner currently ranks 4th in the ICC rankings for T20I bowlers. In fact, the top five bowlers in this list are all leggies, led by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Agarkar said, “Yes, that might be the change, but again that will depend on the conditions. I hope they don’t leave him (Chahal) out for too long. I know he’s a confident cricketer and has a lot of belief in himself. If they do make that change, it might be for Umesh Yadav. Three spinners can be a tough one in the XI but that is likely to be.”

Bhuvneshwar to return to the XI?

Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be available for selection, which would mean India might have to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the second T20I in Lucknow. UP is Bhuvi’s home state as well, but given that the Men in Blue would want to seal the series in this encounter itself, Agarkar pointed out that in such a case resting Bumrah wouldn’t be too wise a decision.

India are currently being led by Rohit Sharma in the absence of Virat Kohli. They were clinical in the first innings of the Kolkata T20I, but encountered several speedbumps during the chase. However, debutant Krunal Pandya steered India home with a cameo of 21 from 9 balls lower down the order.

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