Can India Adapt Their Squad with an Extra Batter or Bowler?

New Delhi, July 9 (NationPress) As India prepares to challenge England in the third Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Lord's, former fast bowler Varun Aaron has pointed out that Team India possesses the flexibility to add an extra batter or bowler based on the prevailing conditions at the historic venue.

Following a commanding 336-run victory at Edgbaston, Indian captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would certainly feature in the match at Lord's. Aaron believes that an additional bowler or batter could replace seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had a disappointing performance.

“It’s guaranteed that Jasprit Bumrah will be back. The real question is whether India will field four fast bowlers or maintain three. Nitish Kumar Reddy might be rested, paving the way for another player since his abilities were underutilized in the last match,” Aaron stated.

“I also observed he could have offered more on the field. He is undoubtedly a talented player, but he may need to wait for more consistent opportunities. With both batting and bowling units performing well, India has the option to either introduce an additional batter or bowler based on the conditions,” he mentioned on JioHotstar.

With Bumrah ready to return at Lord's, Aaron suggests that Mohammed Siraj would take on the first change bowler role, considering that Akash Deep cannot be excluded after achieving his first ten-wicket haul in Tests at Edgbaston.

“I believe Mohammed Siraj will take the first change, coming in at No. 3 in the bowling lineup. He has the capability to deliver the ball quickly, especially with a slightly older Dukes ball—and I think the Dukes ball performs better when deployed as a first-change option,” he elaborated.

“For someone like Siraj, who is currently achieving beautiful outswing, look at his seam position and how he presents the ball—it’s remarkable. The way he dismissed the openers in both innings, particularly Zak Crawley, by enticing him to drive outside the off-stump, highlights his control and skill,” he added.

“Regarding Akash Deep, he simply cannot be overlooked. He ranks among the top three bowlers worldwide in terms of new-ball averages. Like Jasprit Bumrah, he can bowl whenever and wherever required,” he further elaborated.

Aaron is confident that England’s batting lineup will find it challenging to cope with India’s bowlers at Lord's, particularly after their improved performance in the last game. “I doubt England’s batters will feel at ease heading into Lord's, especially after witnessing how Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep bowled in the last Test,” he remarked.

“Now, with a returning Jasprit Bumrah, the threat escalates. Ravindra Jadeja has been bowling exceptionally well—he has not missed his mark at all. Washington Sundar has also displayed solid form.”

“Even Prasidh Krishna, during his final spell on Day 5 at Edgbaston—particularly at the start of the day—showed significant improvement. He appears to be a bowler focused on consistently hitting his areas, instead of just floating the ball. That intent makes a considerable difference,” he concluded.