Anil Kumble’s cricketing future is in doubt, with the Indian captain set to drop out of the Test team – even if he does overcome a nagging shoulder injury.
The veteran leg-spinner is likely to be axed for the second Test against Australia in favour of a third paceman as the Indians prepare to take advantage of a Mohali pitch suited to fast bowlers.
With a third quick, Manuf Patel, set to join fast men Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the team, there are rumours Kumble’s injury may be getting exaggerated to reduce any controversy should he be left out of the team.
Khan and Sharma took the bulk of the wickets in the drawn first Test, in which Kumble went wicketless.
Now, after vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni showed a more attacking mindset than his skipper when Kumble left the field for part of the first Test, selectors may feel the time is right for the one-day captain to take over at Test level.
But Kumble has insisted his injury should not rule him out, writing in his newspaper column yesterday that he had plenty of cricket left in him.
“For those that are wondering about the injury I picked up in the match, after bowling 43 overs in the first innings, I should be fine by the second Test and business as usual thereafter,” Kumble said.
Chief curator Daljit Singh said large amounts of rain meant the Mohali pitch would favour fast bowling in the second Test.
“This has been an unusual season and we have seen heavy rains in this part of the country,” Daljit told News Ltd.
“Honestly, the pitch and ground preparations have been hampered.
“We are trying our best to have a hard and dry wicket with consistent bounce.”
