- July 10, 2025
Lord’s. The home of cricket, the main event, the greenish mirage that you don’t always get! As India prepares for the 3rd Test of the 2025 ENG vs IND series, it’s not who’s in the XI that’s being discussed, but who’s out! With Jasprit Bumrah expectedly returning to the XI, Sanjay Manjrekar has sensationally kicked the hornet’s nest, declaring a seamer will be dropped. Now the big question on everyone’s mind: who gets the chop to make room? Let’s find out!
The Bumrah Dilemma: When Your Best Bowler Returns
It’s a luxury, and a selection headache, to have a world-class bowler like Jasprit Bumrah come back into the squad. At Edgbaston, India had gone with Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, and while Siraj and Deep came away with their reputations dually enhanced, Prasidh has – not for the first time – failed to stamp his character on the match.
Sanjay Manjrekar, no stranger to calling things for what they are, considers that Prasidh’s unsteady performances and high run rate make him the most obvious name to sit out. His line? “I see a seamer going out” – and that’s pretty hard to argue against. Bumrah walks into any XI when fit. Did you see Siraj’s six-for? And Akash Deep? A ten-for on debut.
Why Prasidh Krishna May Be the Fall Guy
Let’s face it—Prasidh hasn’t had the dream Test run everyone hoped for. Despite raw pace and bounce, his lines have been erratic, and he’s bled runs when control was needed. At Edgbaston, he was the weak link in an otherwise fiery pace unit.
Manjrekar also hinted at how the pitches in England have evolved. They aren’t the same paradise they once were. Even a green top at Lord’s can flatten out by Day 2 if the sun shines, like it did when Rahane tonned up in 2021. That makes India unlikely to go with four quicks. Dropping Nitish Kumar Reddy—who brings a batting cushion and bowling options—isn’t ideal either.
So, when you weigh it all up, dropping Prasidh looks like the path of least disruption. It allows India to keep balance and bite, without compromising control.
What This Means for Team India’s Mindset
This isn’t just about who plays and who doesn’t. It tells you something bigger about this team’s mindset. They’re not falling for traditional traps—like picking four seamers just because the venue says “England.” They’re reading conditions better, backing in-form players, and trusting versatility over raw pace alone.
Manjrekar’s comments also reflect faith in how well India has handled transitions. Akash Deep is stepping up at the right time. Siraj immediately bounced back after a little slump in form. And Bumrah is being rested properly and is ready to unleash his full arsenal. These are more than good decisions—they are evidence of a team that has clear planning and faith to implement it.
What seems like a simple swap reveals how sharply India’s selection philosophy has matured. They are flexible, they are bold, and they are only just beginning to get their combinations sorted. Unfortunately for Prasidh Krishna, he could be the name to miss out. The future is looking rosy.
As India emerges at Lord’s for a match which could be a defining match in the series, the emphasis will be on performance over potential, results over reputations. And in this game of chess, that is team selection, judging by the selections made, it is clear that every decision made is dictated towards that ‘W’
What do you think, should Prasidh get one more go, or do we just let form decide the final XI? Let us know in the comments.
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