India-Afghanistan Test (Photo: Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
India vs Afghanistan: India and Afghanistan are going to face each other for the second time in Test cricket. The first Test between the two teams was played in 2018 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which India won by a huge margin of an innings and 262 runs. Now, when both the teams are going to clash for the second time at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, Team India still has the upper hand. 8 years have passed between the first and second Test to be held in India-Afghanistan. The question is, how much has Team India changed during this period? The change here means it is related to the players playing in the playing eleven.
IND vs AFG: KL Rahul Common in the last and this time test
10 out of 11 players of Team India’s playing eleven in the first Test against Afghanistan will not be a part of the playing eleven this time. KL Rahul is the only one from the previous playing eleven, who will be seen playing this time. KL Rahul is also the vice-captain of the current Test team of India.
Let’s take a look at the playing eleven that played in the last Test against Afghanistan and know who are those 10 players among them, who will not play the Test match this time?
Playing XI of last test vs Afghanistan
Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
These 10 players will not play this time
Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik and R Ashwin have retired from international cricket from the playing eleven of the last Test against Afghanistan. Whereas Pujara, Rahane, Ishant and Umesh have not announced their retirement but they have been away from Test cricket for a long time. Ravindra Jadeja has been rested from the Test match against Afghanistan. Whereas Hardik Pandya has distanced himself from Test cricket long ago due to his fitness.
Who will replace the 10 players from the last test?
Now the question is that this time who will be the players who will be seen in the playing eleven replacing the 10 players who played in the last Test. After whose names are revealed, the possible playing eleven of the Test match against Afghanistan starting from June 6 will also be known.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be seen replacing Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan in the opening. Like last time, KL Rahul’s place in the team will be confirmed this time too. Only change can be seen in his batting position. There is every hope that this time Sai Sudarshan will be seen batting at number 3 instead of Pujara. Padikkal may get a chance in place of Rahane. Rishabh Pant is certain to be included in the playing squad this time in place of Dinesh Karthik as a wicket-keeper batsman.
As an all-rounder, this time Nitish Kumar Reddy will be seen playing in place of Hardik Pandya in the test against Afghanistan. In place of Ashwin, Harsh Dubey can replace Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja while making his debut. In place of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav in fast bowling, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can be seen taking place in the playing eleven this time. However, there is still suspense over Siraj’s fitness. In such a situation, if he remains unfit then Gurnoor Brar can debut.
