Heading into Test 3 against England, India has a lot to think about when it comes to picking the eleventh man in the eleventh game. The third round will be a day/night pink ball match at Ahmedabad Baker Stadium which opens up different possibilities as the conditions are not so simple. According to the sources, the team management has not yet decided whether to play 3 rotors or 3 pacemakers in the third test. For this reason: Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, and Muhammad Siraj have been asked by the team management to remain ready for the match.

India’s Playing XI for 3rd Test:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, R.Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Fight for 11th Spot between – Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Siraj

India vs England 3rd Test – Why so much uncertainty over playing XI?

Reason: In the second test in Chennai, where the wicket was a band controller, India came out with three spindles and two pacemakers. But the day/night test is a different game. Not only does the SG ball have a thick lacquer coating to prevent wear and tear, but the field is also expected to have some turf to hold it together for five days.

All this points to a snacker's help, at least for the first day. But if the pitch is set up in such a way as to assist spinners like the first two tests in Chennai, it would be preferred to use the third rotor, which can provide the depth of hitting. There are three options: Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sunder.

For a simple and fourth option, India has to choose between Hardik Pandya or Muhammad Siraj, and Umesh Yadav has a choice in the eleventh.

PINK Ball Test – 3rd Spinner or the 3rd Pacer in Indian XI?

With Ravindra Jadeja absent due to injury, the selection of the Indian team was a nuisance. In his absence, the main question was about who would partner with Ravichandran Ashwin. Before the third test, it can be assumed that India will present Ashwin and Axar Patel, who passed the second test. But the option to place a third roulette game cannot be ruled out.

Kuldeep Yadav: Kuldeep's contribution to India's victory in the second Test was very limited. He only threw 12.2 exaggerated and closed two windows. With the bat, he fell on the flop, scoring three runs. But it is only vertigo on the team, and it might come in handy in day/night conditions.

Washington Sunder: One of the options India could go along with, the Washington Sunder is a player who can strike well to provide India with a depth that reaches into India. If Sayed Mushtaq Ali Cup matches were considered, Motera Stadium could be easy to turn, meaning that aside from Ashwin and Patel, Sander might be the other option.

- Indian bowlers got 19 wickets per match and they all went with pacemakers.

- Indian spinners Ashwin & Jadeja only fired 7 savers in 2 rounds with no success.

Third pacer slot:

Here the circumstances are at stake. Since the test is a day/night thing, dew can be a factor like the lawn on the court. Furthermore, the only day/night test in India in Eden Gardens against Bangladesh showed that the locksmiths rule the ball with the pink ball, returning 19 fields for the match.

With Muhammad al-Shami injured, as well as Bumrah and Ishant Sharma, who will be playing their 100th Test, India can put in a third pacemaker as the hitting lineup is expected to remain the same unless they retire due to late injuries.

Umesh Yadav: Umesh Yadav, one of the pacemakers featured on India's first day/night test at Eden Gardens, has an impressive record at home. In his last five home events, Yadav has won 33 wickets. But as he returns from the injury, it could be risky to press him too soon. However, it could still be the third-best pacemaker choice in India if the team management decided to opt for a specialized pacemaker and the players failed to make much progress.

Hardik Pandya: Looking at bowlers who have limited hitting skills other than Ashwin, Pandya might be the perfect guy to enter the game XI. He can strike and he can be a pacemaker between half and he can play 10-15 games a day. But Pandya is also back from an injury and throwing 15 times a day could become a problem. If chosen, it will be after a long absence of more than two years.

Also Read: INDIA vs ENGLAND 2nd Test: Ashwins solid century helps India set 482-run target for England