Shardul Thakur, India’s fast-bowling all-rounder, has been ruled out of India’s team for the second Test against the West Indies at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval due to a sore left groin. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that he was not available for selection for the match due to the injury. Thakur played a minor role in the first Test, where India won by an innings and 141 runs.
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During the first inning, Shardul Thakur bowled seven overs and took the wicket of the hosts’ number-three batter, Raymon Reifer, while conceding 15 runs. India declared at 421/5 in the second innings before he could bat, and West Indies were out for 130 in the third inning. Before he could bowl, 9 wickets were taken by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined.
West Bengal’s right-arm pacer Mukesh Kumar has replaced Shardul Thakur in India’s 11 for the second Test. The 29-year-old made his debut for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, picking up seven wickets in 10 matches. He has vast domestic experience, picking up 149 wickets in 39 first-class matches at an average of 21.55. Kumar can nip the new ball both ways and can form a threatening trio with Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Siraj. The decision to include Kumar was intriguing, given that the Queen’s Park Oval pitch has always favoured spin, and according to Samuel Badree’s pitch report, this one is no exception.
India’s bowling attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is making his comeback to international cricket after a long injury layoff. He will be accompanied by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin as the spin options. India’s batting line-up looks settled, with Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal opening the innings, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Hanuma Vihari. Rishabh Pant will keep wickets and bat at number seven.
India will be looking to win the second Test to seal the series, having won the first Test convincingly. West Indies, on the other hand, will be hoping to bounce back and level the series. The second Test promises to be an exciting affair, with both teams boasting of talented players.