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Ahead of the keenly-anticipated and hugely promising Lord's Test, it appears that one could see something that's about as exciting as necessary; maybe there are around 3-4 team changes India could make in their XI for Third Test versus England. This is important and perhaps the need of the hour to a reasonable extent. In what is clearly the mid-point stage of the series, the visiting side, especially with an aim to establish a formidable hold over the fate of the series would want to dabble with some experiments, though mindfully conceived. And these changes, in the form of some redoubtable talents making their way back into the side could actually help India nudge ahead of England at a time where it is really needed. That said, let us make space to examine the 3-4 team changes India could make in their XI for Third Test vs England that will soon begin at Lord's.
Here are three possible changes to Team India’s playing XI for the third Test against England:
Kuldeep Yadav over Washington Sundar
Maybe it's time to introduce Kuldeep Yadav, one of India's most potent Test bowling spin options into this series, and finally so! Having missed two back to back games already, Kuldeep Yadav finally making inroads into India's playing XI would be the key and definitely, at this time, stands as one among the 3-4 team changes India could make in their XI for Third Test versus England at Lord's.
21 Test wickets is a great stack and that's what Yadav, such a clever bowler has already achieved in the highest format of Test cricket. Maybe Sundar, who's been useful with lower order hitting and tightly controlled bowling at Edgbaston, won't mind sitting out for a contest only to be brought back later.
Jasprit Bumrah over Prasidh Krishna
It has nearly been confirmed that as far as the forthcoming contest is concerned between the big hosts and the famous visiting side, there are no fewer than 3-4 team changes India could make in their XI for third Test.
For starters, Bumrah is a gun bowler and with the series currently leveled at 1-1, the forthcoming Lord's contest would actually serve a great opportunity for India to go one up over England, something that the visitors would simply relish at this point in time.
Moreover, the biggest consequence of bringing in Bumrah in to the team, with no fewer than 210 Test wickets to his name, would spell a darning blow to England, some of whose leading batters haven't quite fired at this time. A prime example being Ben Stokes and when it comes to the left hander, then Bumrah has already dismissed "Stoksey" twice and something like this (Bumrah's average already being 19 in Test cricket with the red ball) could come in handy for his side.
Prasidh Krishna has gone for one run too many and hasn't really looked potent enough in a team whose playing XI with the inclusion of Bumrah, seems a dangerous proposition, given there is Siraj and Akash Deep, already there, in red hot form.
Sai Sudharsan over Karun Nair
At a time where Karun Nair's Test return was being billed among the finest and most glorious things to have happened for India, the same hasn't really produced a swashbuckling sight for cricket fans from India or the batter himself. His scores so far read 31 and 26, 0 and 20. Maybe it is time to induct Sudharsan, someone on his first-ever tour to England, into the batting cauldron.
He's a technically sound batter and despite having not made too many runs already, as seen at Headingley, it is time to give Sai another chance so that he can finally make a useful contribution. He'd be raring to go given other youngsters around him, most notably Jaiswal have already gotten going in this series.
