IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Why India would not push for a rank turner in Vizag? | Cricket News

Having resorted to rank turners the last time England went 1-0 up, in the 2021 tour, all eyes are firmly on how India would respond this time. However, all things in Visakhapatnam point out to the pitch for the second Test beginning on Friday, being another slow turner, similar to what was rolled out at Hyderabad. If the pitch for the first Test had turn from Day 1, it may not be the case here.
With Visakhapatnam being on the coastal stretch and temperature being warmer than what it was in Hyderabad, the pitch remained under covers for most part of the day. But not before it was watered and a heavy roller was used. There is a slight layer of grass in patches, but that is hardly going to matter on a pitch that looks brown. Like most part of the country, this one is a black soil surface and watering it two days ahead of the Test means it will not crumble as much, thus leading to less sharp turn. “It is difficult to predict. It will turn, may not be from the first day, but eventually it will turn,” assessed India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour, after taking a look at the 22-yard strip straight after the team arrived for their first practice session here.
During the 2021 tour, after playing the first Test on a flat deck that lasted five days and ended up losing, they opted for turning pitches with the next three Tests finishing under three days. The third lasted all but two days in Ahmedabad. But this time, India have decided to stick with more traditional Indian tracks that take slow turn at least for the time being and will take stock after the Vizag Test.

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— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2024
Inexperienced batters
Despite having resourceful spinners who could run through England on rank turners, the reason India have opted for this sort of a pitch is largely down to the inexperienced batting line-up. After Rohit Sharma at the top, the player with most Test runs is R Ashwin, who batted at No 8 in Hyderabad. In Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer they have a top-order with only 39 Tests and 2,229 runs between them. And on turning pitches, they haven’t looked completely at home, thus adding to their concerns.
For a team that is already without Virat Kohli, the absence of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja from the first Test means India have to make at least two forced changes. While Rajat Patidar, who averages 45.97, and comes into the Test on the back of a century against England Lions last week, seems a perfect candidate to replace Rahul, the replacement for Jadeja is less straightforward. Apart from being an efficient bowler, he provides solidity in the middle.

Prep mode 🔛#TeamIndia get into the groove for the 2⃣nd #INDvENG Test in Vizag 👌 👌@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/BiN0XjLzMu
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2024
Should England continue to play both Jack Leach and Tom Hartley provided the former regains full fitness, having just Axar to counter two left-arm spinners would bring its own challenges, especially batting last. It is the reason why they also seem to keep the option of playing Washington Sundar open with Kuldeep Yadav confirmed to take his spot as the third spinner. So the question India have to ponder for the next couple of days is whether to replace Jadeja the batsman or Rahul. If it is the latter, then Patidar would make his debut.

Kuldeep or Washington?
That Washington remains in their plans was evident from the moment head coach Rahul Dravid was seen looking for him. As the batsman arrived moments later, he straightaway hit the nets. During the previous series against England, which Jadeja missed, it was Washington that the then team management had turned to, even ahead of Kuldeep in three of the four Tests that they played. It was his last Test, wherein he scored an unbeaten 96.

However, the chances of him making it ahead of Kuleep as a spinner looks thin, as on a slow turner the Chinaman will be effective with his variations. Speaking before the first Test, skipper Rohit Sharma said he was tempted what Kuldeep offered and eventually leaned towards Axar Patel only because he offered depth in batting. With the batting troubles only getting deeper, whether India seek depth or just rely on specials to do the job for them remains to be seen.