Coach Anil Kumble hints KL Rahul will play in second Test

Visakhapatnam, Nov 15: India's chief coach Anil Kumble today (November 15) made it amply clear that opener KL Rahul would be making a comeback into the playing XI against England in the second Test starting Thursday (November 17).

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With Gautam Gambhir looking out of sync in the face of incisive swing bowling and bounce generated by England pacers in the first Test, the SOS call to Rahul, who played a couple of good knocks against Rajasthan in Ranjit Trophy, was a giveaway that he was back in the fold. (Ind-Eng series schedule)

"I think there is still two days left. Rahul is certainly available for selection and you would want Rahul to be in starting line-up and that's the reason he has been included," Kumble said, indicating his preferred opener.

"He (Rahul) had an (hamstring) injury in Kanpur. He was not available for Test and ODIs against New Zealand. Now he has recovered and as a protocol, he played a Ranji Trophy game. Today he scored a hundred (106) and in the first innings he scored 70 plus (76 off 85 balls). Since match is happening close to Vizag (at Vizaianagaram), it's good to have him in the squad and he is available for selection," Kumble elaborated.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Jimmy Anderson in the England starting line-up, Kumble said that the focus is not on a single individual.

"He has 450 Test wickets, that's obviously experience. He has played here before. He is a very important player for England. You need experience and when someone is available, it will be a stronger unit. We will look at England as a team and not focus on any individual. Similarly, we have Rahul, who is now available. It's always good to have full teams," said Kumble.

Kumble praised the Indian fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami for the manner in which they have bowled during the New Zealand series as well as the first Test despite not getting too many wickets.

"Fast bowlers did really well. Shami and Umesh bowled exceptionally well. They got the ball to reverse and trouble the English batsmen. Umesh and Shami not only bowled well at Rajkot but also against New Zealand, so did Bhuvi, all the fast bowlers are doing well."

India dropped as many as six catches in the first Test and that did not go unnoticed.

"I think if you look at only aspect, where we probably we let ourselves down is catching. We have done well in all three departments over the past three and half months that I have been with the team. Catching is one area that the team prides itself. We let ourselves down in that aspect," Kumble said.

Kumble also defended the bowlers, stating that it was a good wicket to bat on and six tons from either side proved that.

"If you look at the first innings, both teams batted nearly 160 overs. It was a challenge for bowlers to pick wickets. It was a good wicket to bat on. Save last day, those 60 overs, I don't read too much into batting. There were six Test centuries, two from our side and four from their side. It was a good Test match."

The legendary spinner did not blame Cheteshwar Pujara for not taking DRS for the contentious leg before decision that he got.

"If you look at that, probably if Pujara would had taken DRS, we would have ended at probably 170 for 1. I don't think you can blame anyone for that. I think both batsmen felt it was not necessary."

The coach begged to differ that England gained advantage with their spinners taking 13 wickets compared to nine by the Indian spinners.

"It's not that we lose anything if English spinners get more wickets than Indian spinners. We will select team as per our strategy. We will play according to the conditions of the pitch. We play to take 20 wickets and win the match. Once we know the conditions, we will put a plan together," concluded Kumble.

PTI