3 Surprises India should spring at Edgbaston

2. Play Rishabh Pant as a specialist batsman

Cheteshwar Pujara signed up for Yorkshire to get a know-how of the English conditions before the crunch series against England. His stint at Yorkshire this time around was uninspiring. He did not scale the heights expected of him.

Pujara was dropped on India’s tour to Sri Lanka, back in 2015. He regained his place soon after and has not looked back since. However, after a string of unconvincing displays in South Africa and more recently, in England, a doubt has been cast over his inclusion. In the warm up game against Essex, Pujara looked fazed and did not get a lot of runs under his belt. He got out on 1 in the 1st innings before perishing for 23 in the 2nd.

A case can be made for Rahane to shift to No.3 as he looked in good touch in the two warm-up games and include the talented Rishabh Pant as a middle order batsman. Pant has been in England playing for India ‘A’ and has stitched together a good run of scores. In the lone test against England Lions, he scored fifties in both innings against a strong bowling unit.

With a left-hander in the mix, it would also help counter the threat of Adil Rashid. He has all the shots in the book and is showing signs of maturing as a batsman. The time is right for him to be given his due for his domestic performances. With him in the middle order, India can also look to attack the English spinners and put them under severe pressure.

In ordinary circumstances, Pujara would be a certainty to play. However, this series is anything but ordinary. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Looking at form and not reputation, India should take the punt on Pant.