Third Test Cricket: India's Trump Card against England?

Buoyed with Lord’s Test win, India heads into the third Test match against England at Leeds starting August 25. Most teams with such a confident start in the series are generally stick to the winning combination. Although Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane overcame their sagging form and played useful knocks in India’s win at Lord’s, cricket experts seem not much convinced with their performance. Former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer reckons India could do with making one change in their line-up for the 3rd Test match. Engineer feels that Surya Kumar Yadav may be proved trump card for Virat Kohli if he is included in place of either Pujara or Rahane in the playing XI.

Going by his recent performance, he showed his confidence on Surya Kumar Yadav, saying he will be a match -winner.  He is fabulous batsman and very sharp fielder as well. Farokh Engineer predicts the Headingley pitch ideal for batsmen. In this case, it could be a great opportunity for Suryakumar to make his Test debut for India. He said, "People are usually reluctant to change a winning combination but like they say 'horses for courses'. It depends on the wicket in Headingley. I don't see it being too different. The Headingley pitch will be a good Test wicket. It's considered to be one of the finest batting pitches in the world. So, I would like to see the inclusion of Suryakumar Yadav. He is the trump card in the team," Engineer added.

 Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan sustained injuries and were ruled out of the series. Prithvi Shaw and Surya Kumar Yadav were called on for Team India’s duty in place of those injured players. Both last played excellently for Shikhar Dhawan led India in the recently concluded limited over series against Sri Lanka. They reunited with Virat Kohli’s team on the final day of the Lord’s Test.

Reports say, Virat Kohli will certainly go with same set of four seamers…. Ishant, Sami, Bumrah and young sensation Siraz. All rounder Ravindra Jadeja may lose his place due to his under rated bowling performance. And R. Ashwin may come back in place of him. The suspense over Pujara/Rahane in the final XI will only be cleared on 25th August. In case, one of them is dropped then Surya may debut for Team India.

Let us wait and watch… Will Surya Kumar Yadav be a winning “Trump Card” for Team India at Leeds if we go by the words from Farokh Engineer?