Three Indian players who should be selected for the third Test

If it was heartbreak in the first match, it is unadulterated humiliation in the second. The Englishmen have thrashed the Indians left, right and centre to gain a crucial 2-0 lead in the five-match Test series. Though Ravi Shastri's boys, inspired by their skipper Virat Kohli put up some sort of a fight in the first Test at Edgbaston, it was a complete no-show from them at Lord's.

Kohli made some changes in the playing XI for the second Test but they didn't bear fruits. After bearing a lot of criticism, Kohli introduced Pujara in the playing XI, only to get 18 runs in return. Highly-rated chinaman Kuldeep Yadav bowled 9 overs, in which he failed to open his wickets tally. The end result was a defeat by a margin of an innings and 159 runs.

They will now lock horns against the Three Lions at Trent Bridge, Nottingham and must give their everything as pride is at stake. Let us have a look at three players they must select for the third Test:

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#3 Shardul Thakur

Indian seamers have not been much effective in the Tests

Though the Indian seamers have found success at intervals, they have failed to get to have as big an impact as their English counterparts. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami picked three wickets each in the first Test. The former was benched in the second Test, which was a bit of surprise.

After a good opening Test, Ishant Sharma justified his 'inconsistent' tag by picking up just a solitary wicket and conceding more than a ton of runs. Shardul Thakur has not been tested yet, and the team management can opt for an alternative in the 26-year-old Maharashtra man.

He took 8 wickets in four matches in the recently concluded tri-series for India A and managed two wickets in 10 overs in a Test against the England Lions.

#2 Karun Nair

Nair has an exceptional record against England

While the Indian bowlers have still got some success to showcase, the batters have had only embarrassment thus far. Having no clue about swing and emulating school children, the Indian batters have made a mockery of themselves.

KL Rahul was injected into the team so as to bring positivity, which he brought about by scoring 17 runs in the first Test and 18 in the second.

Probably it is time to tweak a thing or two in the batting lineup and give a chance to the untested players. In his short Test career, Karun Nair has stacked up commendable numbers and has an average of over 60.

His exploits against England are known to many and his average of 160 against Root's men are a testament to it. In the unofficial Test series against West Indies A, he scored 210 runs.

#1 Rishabh Pant

Karthik has failed to impress thus far

Following India's regular Test keeper Wriddhiman Saha's injury, Dinesh Karthik was selected as the first-choice keeper following his exceptional form in the IPL. But, all he has managed to do so far is accumulate 21 in two Tests, 20 of which came in the second innings of the first Test.

India have another younger and more exciting wicket-keeping option in the form of Rishabh Pant. The swashbuckling left-hander scored 158 runs for India A in the tri-series, 70 against Windies A in an unofficial Test and 119 against England in another such Test.

Given his sublime form and safe glovework, it is high time to get him in the playing XI.