As India prepares for the decisive fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at The Oval on July 31, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has called for significant adjustments to the Indian playing XI. With the series standing at 2-1 in England’s favor and India managing only a draw in the fourth Test, Pathan believes a reshuffle is essential to level the series.
One of the forced changes will be due to Rishabh Pant’s absence after suffering a foot fracture. Irfan Pathan suggested that wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel should step into the vice-captain’s shoes.
Kuldeep and Arshdeep Tipped to Strengthen Bowling Line-Up
Pathan also recommended giving Jasprit Bumrah a rest to manage his workload, proposing Kuldeep Yadav as his replacement. According to Pathan, Kuldeep’s ability to take wickets in bunches could be crucial at The Oval.
“𝑲𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒖𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒉. 𝑼𝒔𝒆 𝑲𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉. 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔,” 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝑻𝒖𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍.
Another change suggested was replacing debutant Anshul Kamboj, who had an underwhelming fourth Test. Pathan floated the names of Arshdeep Singh or Prasidh Krishna to take his spot in the pace attack.
“𝑨𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑯𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆-𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕-𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒕,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅.
Praise for Washington Sundar’s All-Round Impact
Pathan also heaped praise on Washington Sundar, who has been one of the standout performers for India during the series. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder scored his maiden international century on the final day of the fourth Test and has contributed significantly with the ball as well.
“𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆,” 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒅. “𝑰𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒙 𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒕 5 𝒐𝒓 6 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆.”
With a crucial match ahead and the series on the line, Pathan’s recommendations reflect the urgency and tactical shifts India may need to turn the tide at The Oval.
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