Lord’s
India have suffered a selection headache on the eve of the second Test against England with a hamstring injury ruling out Shardul Thakur.
Captain Virat Kohli confirmed during his press conference on Wednesday that Thakur had a left hamstring injury and he is likely to be ready for the third Test*.
Thakur arrived for training on Monday at Lord’s and spent time in the gym alongside the India physiotherapist Nitin Patel and trainer Nick Webb. Thakur, who was India’s fourth seamer during the first Test in Nottingham, picked up four wickets – two in each innings.
Doubts surfaced about Thakur’s fitness when he only sent down 13 overs in England’s second innings – the fewest of India’s quicks – although he did not show any evident unease on the outside. The key question now for India is who replaces Thakur.
With conditions in London forecast to be warm and dry – with temperatures in the early 20s for the entire duration of the Test – India have the choice of either picking a second spinning allrounder in R Ashwin or a fourth seamer in Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav, considering reverse-swing could be in play along with the seam movement and conventional swing that are usually on offer in English conditions.—AP
