Former Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik shared his opinion on Team India’s playing XI without the veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah before the second Test. However, India are in England for a five-match Test series. While they lost the opening Test, the second game is slated to begin on Wednesday, July 2, in Birmingham.

Talking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said, “We need to look at both contingencies. What happens if Bumrah is playing and what happens if he is not. India have a massive decision to make. Everything about England tells you that you don’ need to play more than one spinner. If you play two spinners that genuinely weakens your batting. So that is a big decision. Are you still going to be looking at Nitish Reddy at number 8? which means just three bowlers. Or Nitish Reddy at 7 then where does Jadeja go?”

READ HERE: Jasprit Bumrah Opens Up On Dropped Catches Against England

However, Jasprit Bumrah could return for the third Test at Lord’s if he missed the Birmingham Test as well. However, Dinesh Karthik also feels that not having Bumrah and losing the second Test, being 0-2 down, is of no use as well.

“He’s bowled a lot of overs. It gives his body more time. The more the better for him. I would like to think he would like to play at Lord’s as well. It’s quite a nice ground and has lot of history. But it’s not about what he wants to do, it’s about what the team feels they need to do as well. If they feel there is no point going to Lord’s 2-0 might as well try and go 1-1, that is a decision they need to take,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.