Aakash Chopra predicts three changes in India's line-up for Trent Bridge Test

India will take on England in the third Test of the five-match series at Trent Bridge from Saturday. The visitors, led by Virat Kohli, have a do-or-die battle in their hand as yet another loss will throw them out of the series. India lost the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs while they were hammered at Lord’s by an innings and 159 runs to trail 0-2.

A lot has been spoken about their selection for the first two games besides the fact that they have played only one warm-up game ahead of the Test series. India roped in Cheteshwar Pujara and Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test in place of Shikhar Dhawan and Umesh Yadav, respectively, but the end result showed little difference. The clamour has now grown to give young Rishabh Pant, the second wicket-keeper in the squad, to chance as Dinesh Karthik has failed miserably so far.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra, who played 10 Tests in 2003-04 and is currently a commentator and analyst, came up with his vocal tonic for the visitors in a Twitter video on Thursday. He felt that Team India is much better than what they have been doing in the Tests so far.

“This is the time. Every Indian cricketer is telling himself exactly this. If we lose this Test at Trent Bridge, then it is all over. It is time to show the world that we haven’t become No.1 in Tests just by playing at home. We have done it in the past. We lost the first two Tests in South Africa but won the third. The team needs an inspiring performance, not from the captain but somebody else apart from him with the bat,” he said.

What are the changes?

Chopra said India needed some changes for the third Test and backed Rishabh Pant and Karun Nair to come into the set-up. However, he was also of the opinion that Murali Vijay and KL Rahul should continue to open despite their inability to counter swing early on in the innings. “He is in the tour party and we can play him. Remember him hitting a triple century against England the last time he played them?” the 40-year-old added about Nair.

In the bowling slots, Chopra fits Ravi Ashwin, followed by three fast bowlers in Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah who has been declared fit for the third Test which must have rejuvenated the visitors’ camp.

Here’s his XI for the third Test: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma

#ENGvIND: It's #England 2-0 #India after 2 Tests. With the series at stake, can the visitors turn things around in the 3rd Test? Should Rishabh Pant be picked for a Test debut in this crucial encounter? #AakashVani pic.twitter.com/W1QiQ3FgxB

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 17, 2018

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