Does India need two spinners for the Nagpur Test, asks Harish Kotian.
Play Selector and help Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri pick the Indian team for the second Test which begins on Friday.
After staging a superb comeback in the rain-hit first Test in Kolkata when they nearly snatched victory, India will be looking to carry on the momentum in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, which begins on Friday, November 24.
India have been dealt a double blow ahead of the Nagpur game with Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- who bowled brilliantly -- and Shikhar Dhawan opting out of the second Test.
Bhuvi, who picked up eight wickets and was named the man of the match, will miss the next two Tests. The fast bowler is getting married this week. :))
Dhawan, who hit a quickfire 94 in the second innings in Kolkata, has taken a break for personal reasons.
Tamil Nadu seam bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar is Bhuvi's replacement. Shankar, who has played for India 'A' in recent times, has scored 1,671 runs in 32 first class games at an average of 49; he has also taken 27 wickets.
The experienced Murali Vijay will take Dhawan's place while Ishant Sharma will return to the side.
The Nagpur track is likely to be seamer friendly and one must ask if Captain Virat Kohli and Coach Ravi Shastri will pick both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing eleven.
The spinners bowled 10 overs combined in both innings in the Eden Gardens Test and if India are to play on a a pitch similar to Kolkata, the skipper and coach may opt to give medium pacer all-rounder Shankar his Test cap.
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