India vs England: 2 spinners or 3 seamers? London weather poses selection headache for India

London was burning on Tuesday, temperatures edging past 35 degrees Celsius, the pitch had a tinge of green but it could be more to retain whatever little moisture was left on the square. Clarion calls have been made to include two spinners, and play six specialist batsmen in Lord’s.

However, the Indian management should read the weather forecast for the Test match days. The temperatures are expected to drop, there will be few sporadic spells of showers and then this green tinge could spice up things, two spinners...three seamers...six batsmen?

Nothing is certain as of now, and the weather in England tends to be fleeting, but the Indian management should ideally wait for the morning of the match and take all factors into consideration.

However, there is another pool of thought which says that the team should always play according to their strengths irrespective of the conditions, and clearly, against a jittery England batting, spinners will be handy for Kohli.

Having said this, Hardik Pandya might make the cut as the third seamer if India do go in with two spinners and the all-rounder has to be utilised more by the skipper. He bowled just 10 overs in the first innings at Edgbaston and never came on to bowl in the second dig, and this is where Kohli needs to step in.

Also, if bowling Bharath Arun is to be believed, the visitors might not opt for six specialist batsmen as it will be a conservative move.

“Everything depends on the conditions. And if the conditions are not as friendly as it was during the first Test it would make more sense to play five bowlers,” Arun said while addressing the media.

First Published: Aug 08, 2018 14:52 IST