As Team India gears up for the 2nd Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 10, there’s more to discuss than just the playing XI. While chatter around Shubman Gill’s possible future as India’s ODI captain and the long-term plans for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has dominated headlines, the spotlight is finally shifting back to the actual cricket and rightly so.
India crushed the West Indies by an innings in the first Test, and with momentum on their side, the focus now is less about team combination and more about managing player workload, especially with a busy calendar ahead.
India’s Last Test in Delhi: 3 Spinners, 2 Pacers
When India last played a Test at this venue against Australia in 2023 – they went with a three-spinner, two-pacer combination. Given that the Arun Jaitley pitch is black soil, which tends to help spinners from Day 1 and doesn’t demand long spells from fast bowlers, a similar setup could be expected again.
Bumrah’s Workload: Rest or Repeat?
One of the biggest questions heading into this Test is whether Jasprit Bumrah should be rested.
- Bumrah played the first Test just three days after the Asia Cup final, a move that raised eyebrows.
- He looked in great rhythm, bowled without stress, and now has had a few days to recover.
- Plus, he’s already been rested for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, meaning he has a longer break after this match.
All signs point to him being fit enough to play, but as always with Bumrah, the final call will depend on how his body feels. His return to red-ball cricket has been carefully managed after his long injury layoff, and the team won’t risk anything.
If India chooses to rest him, Prasidh Krishna could get a look-in – and it would be his first Test match on Indian soil.
Is It Time to Rest Siraj?
Another option could be to rest Mohammed Siraj.
- He’s in the squad for the ODI series against Australia, which starts just days after this Test.
- With Bumrah not playing the ODIs, India will need Siraj fresh for all three matches.
If a rotation is on the cards, Siraj might be the one to sit out, and again, Prasidh Krishna would be a likely replacement. Prasidh bowls a similar hard length and wouldn’t disrupt the team’s balance too much, especially with the pitch favouring spin.
A Spin-Heavy Attack on the Cards?
Given the nature of the Delhi pitch, India may once again go with three spinners. With Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, and Axar Patel all available and in form, it’s a tried and tested formula at home.
So, the real question becomes:
Which two pacers do India play?
If both Bumrah and Siraj are rotated, we could finally see Prasidh Krishna and possibly Mukesh Kumar sharing the new ball.
Predicted India Playing XI for 2nd Test vs WI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah/Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
Also Read: IND vs WI 2nd Test in Delhi: Will rain ruin the match at Arun Jaitley Stadium? Here’s the Forecast
