The Indian team is 1-0 up in the five-match T20I series, and for the 2nd match in Raipur, skipper Suryakumar Yadav made two changes in the playing XI. While one was a forced change, Axar Patel had suffered an injury in the first encounter, as Kuldeep Yadav came in. And on the other hand, surprisingly enough, pacer Jasprit Bumrah was given rest and Harshit Rana came in for him.
No Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel
That only raises questions over Bumrah’s fitness, who was not there in the ODI series as well; what was the need to rest him only after 1 encounter. While there have been no reports that have come about, over the bowler’s fitness, but his exclusion does come as a big surprise.
In the last match he had returned with figures of 0/29, and had a break of a month, between this match and the last encounter he played; India vs South Africa in December. Nonetheless, Harshit Rana came in for the veteran, who adds a little bit of balance to the side, and can score some runs at no. 8.
Harshit Rana & Kuldeep Yadav come in
As far as the toss is concerned, India won and opted to bowl, on a wicket that could have something for the bowlers. Also, dew could come into play by the time the second innings starts. Surya said at the toss, “We are going to bowl first. There is already little bit of dew out there, we haven’t chased in recent times, so we want to chase. I think it (the pitch) looks good. I think it’s the same wicket they said, which was used for the ODI series.”
India playing XI: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
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