India wins toss, bats in 2nd test vs. England

Published On: November 17, 2016 11:26 AM NPT By: Associated Press

England's bowler Stuart Broad, center, reacts as Indian cricketers Murali Vijay right, and Gautam Gambhir take a run during the second day of the first test cricket match between India and England in Rajkot, India, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP)

VISAKHAPATNAM, India, Nov 17: India won the toss on Thursday and opted to bat in the second test against England.

The hosts have made two changes to their line-up. Fit-again opener K.L. Rahul comes into the eleven ahead of Gautam Gambhir. Off-spinner Jayant Yadav was handed his test debut, replacing leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

England too made a change. James Anderson was declared fit and took the place of Chris Woakes, who has had a high workload over recent series.

India continued its strategy of playing five bowlers, with Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav retained ahead of the more-experienced Ishant Sharma. The visitors too retained six bowling options.

The pitch bore a dry look, devoid of any grass, and should assist spinners than in the drawn first test.

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India: Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami.

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, James Anderson, Zafar Ansari, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad.