Ravi Shastri questions Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma's decision in 2nd Test: 'How much of use he will be?'

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Ravi Ravi Shastri has questioned Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma's decision to play Mukesh Kumar ahead of Jasprit Bumrah in the second India vs England Test match in Visakhapatnam.

Rohit Sharma won the toss in the second Test and announced that India were going to bat first before naming Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and debutant Rajat Patidar in the squad. While Patidar replaced injured KL Rahul, and Mukesh replaced Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav was added in the squad as the third spinner.

Shastri expressed his concerns over Mukesh Kumar's inclusion, suggesting that spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar should have been the one replacing Ravindra Jadeja. The former coach expressed doubt over the utility of pacer Mukesh Kumar, especially in the fourth innings when the surface would become very spin friendly.

"My only concern is picking Mukesh Kumar over Washington Sundar. How much of use will Mukesh be, especially after India is batting first on this Vizag surface," Shastri said while commentating in the first innings.

England played the first match with just one pacer and won the match by 28 runs despite India taking a 190-run first innings lead. England followed a similar template in the second innings. Off-spinner and three more specialist spinners in Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley are playing.

In the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah was the only India pacer who picked wickets. Mohammed Siraj went wicket-less in the first innings.

India captain Rohit Sharma at toss said that India have a plan to make a comeback and they are looking to execute it. He said the game would be an opportunity to Test India's bench strength.

"What happened in Hyderabad is history, we need to move on. We have spoken on things we need to do, now we need to execute on our plans. I thought we batted well in the first innings, but didn't have the same intent. Similarly, in the second innings with the bowl there was a brilliant knock by Ollie Pope. Injuries are part and parcel of the game, but that's why we have the guys sitting on the bench," he said.