“It could be a straight swap” – Aakash Chopra on potential change in India’s playing XI for IND vs BAN 2024 2nd Test

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Kuldeep Yadav could replace Akash Deep in the playing XI against Bangladesh for the second Test match at Green Park, Kanpur. Chopra feels Kuldeep will be handy on a black soil pitch and the hosts could go in with three spinners.

The renowned commentator said India could also rest Jasprit Bumrah if they have to manage his workload. While Bumrah bagged five wickets in the opening Test at Chennai, Deep returned with two wickets in the first innings.

On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav will definitely add more strength to the team if the pitch is spin-friendly.

“You can do only one thing on a black-soil pitch – put grass and leave moisture. Then the ball moves decently for the first one to one-and-a-half days. If they make such a pitch, which they did in Chennai, they might have to play three fast bowlers. However, if it’s a typical Kanpur surface, low, slow and slightly spin-friendly, Kuldeep Yadav has to play,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“It could be a straight swap, a fast bowler out and Kuldeep Yadav in. If there is no workload management, Akash Deep out and Kuldeep in. If Bumrah has to rest, both Akash Deep and Kuldeep might play. Other than that, I don’t think there is a scope for a change in the team,” the former India opener added.

Meanwhile, Chopra reckons Taijul Islam will come into Bangladesh’s playing XI. There were doubts on Shakib Al Hasan’s availability due to a finger injury but Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has confirmed that the all-rounder is available for selection.

“Firstly Shakib Al Hasan’s availability is not known. There is no final verdict yet whether he is playing or not. He is nursing an injury. If he is available, he will play, otherwise he will not. I see Taijul Islam playing. He is a left-arm spinner and he has troubled us a lot as well,” he replied.

“He bowls very long spells. He bowls 30 overs in a day. Left-arm spinner – even Ajaz Patel, Matthew Kuhnemann and Steve O’Keefe troubled us. All left-arm spinners trouble us. You will have to be slightly wary of Taijul Islam, although his recent form is not very good at all,” Chopra reasoned.

The second Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Green Park, Kanpur from September 27.