India vs England: Jadeja and Rahul ruled out of second Test; Sarfaraz, Sourabh and Sundar get the nod

Already licking their wounds after suffering a defeat against England in the opening Test, India were dealt a double blow on Monday after ace spinner Ravindra Jadeja and middle-order batter KL Rahul were ruled out of the second game due to injuries.

“Mr Ravindra Jadeja and Mr KL Rahul have been ruled out of the second IDFC First Bank Test against England in Vizag, starting February 02, 2024,” said a release from the BCCI. “Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during play on Day 4 of the first Test in Hyderabad while Rahul complained of a right quadriceps pain. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring the progress of the duo.”

The selection committee, meanwhile, decided to hand a national call-up to the in-form Sarfaraz Khan and tireless domestic cricket operator Saurabh Kumar. They also added Tamil Nadu offie Washington Sundar for the second Test. While the unavailability of Jadeja, who held his hamstring while attempting to complete a quick single that saw him being run-out by England skipper Ben Stokes on Sunday, is bad enough, the absence of Rahul is indeed a body blow to India.

It also presents a likely opportunity for Sarfaraz and Saurabh to realise their dream of donning the national cap after doing plenty well on the domestic circuit.

Despite a controversial career and weight issues that many believe could have been a deterrent for his growth as a cricketer, the naturally-attacking Sarfaraz has made all the right noises whenever he’s held a bat in his hands.

The 26-year-old Mumbaikar hammered 954 runs in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season. The manner in which he got his five centuries were breathtaking. However, he didn’t elicit the attention of the selectors for various reasons.

He gave another demonstration of his destructive ball-striking abilities in India A’s win over England Lions in the second unofficial Test where he clobbered 161 off just 160 balls.

Sarfaraz’s instinctively attacking batting could help India catch England’s spinners cold but it’s most likely that the more orthodox Rajat Patidar, who was called as back-up for Virat Kohli, could be handed a Test debut.

The 30-year-old left-arm spinner Saurabh is one those unlucky players who were born in an era where they are outshined by celebrated cricketers.

Uttar Pradesh’s Saurabh has bagged 290 wickets in 68 first-class games, including 22 five-wicket hauls, but with Jadeja being the protagonist and Axar Patel his understudy, Saurabh had to contend with domestic cricket.

Although Saurabh, who bagged a fifer in the second game versus England Lions, will be delighted with the national call-up, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav or even Washington, given his better batting capabilities, could replace Jadeja.

Squad for second Test: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, Saurabh Kumar.