"It could be a straight swap" - Aakash Chopra on potential change in India's playing XI for IND vs BAN 2024 2nd Test

Aakash Chopra expects Kuldeep Yadav to replace a seamer in India's playing for the second Test against Bangladesh if the match is played on a typical Kanpur pitch. However, he reckons the hosts might stick to the same playing XI as the last Test if there is grass and moisture on the surface.

India trounced Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test on a slightly seamer-friendly surface in Chennai. Kuldeep wasn't part of the playing XI, with the Indian think-tank opting to go with three seamers and two spinners.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked whether India should make any changes to their playing XI.

"You can do only one thing on a black-soil pitch - put grass and leave moisture. Then the ball moves decently for the first one to one-and-a-half days. If they make such a pitch, which they did in Chennai, they might have to play three fast bowlers. However, if it's a typical Kanpur surface, low, slow and slightly spin-friendly, Kuldeep Yadav has to play," he responded (5:25).

"It could be a straight swap, a fast bowler out and Kuldeep Yadav in. If there is no workload management, Akash Deep out and Kuldeep in. If Bumrah has to rest, both Akash Deep and Kuldeep might play. Other than that, I don't think there is a scope for a change in the team," the former India opener added.

Jasprit Bumrah picked up five wickets in 21 overs across Bangladesh's two innings in the Chennai Test. Akash Deep accounted for two dismissals in five overs in the first innings but went wicketless in six overs in the second essay.

---

"I see Taijul Islam playing" - Aakash Chopra on the potential change in Bangladesh's playing XI

In the same video, Aakash Chopra was asked about the probable changes in Bangladesh's playing XI.

"Firstly Shakib Al Hasan's availability is not known. There is no final verdict yet whether he is playing or not. He is nursing an injury. If he is available, he will play, otherwise he will not. I see Taijul Islam playing. He is a left-arm spinner and he has troubled us a lot as well," he replied (6:25).

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckons India need to be wary of Taijul Islam if the left-arm spinner is included in the playing XI.

"He bowls very long spells. He bowls 30 overs in a day. Left-arm spinner - even Ajaz Patel, Matthew Kuhnemann and Steve O'Keefe troubled us. All left-arm spinners trouble us. You will have to be slightly wary of Taijul Islam, although his recent form is not very good at all," Chopra reasoned.

Chopra picked Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul as the Indian players to watch out for in the Kanpur Test. He chose Taijul Islam, Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim as the Bangladesh players in focus.