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TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: With India gearing up for a crucial second Test at Edgbaston, England skipper Ben Stokes hailed Rishabh Pant as one of the biggest threats in the opposition camp and a personal favourite to watch. “Even though he’s in my opposition, I love watching him play,” Stokes told reporters on Tuesday. “When you set a talent like him free, you saw what happens. Very dangerous player. I really enjoy watching him.”
Pant’s explosive counterattacking style has often disrupted bowling plans across formats, and with England’s pace-heavy attack targeting India’s middle and lower order, the left-hander, who scored centuries in both innings at Headingley, could once again be India’s trump card — especially on a pitch expected to flatten out as the game progresses.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Stokes also took a subtle step back from speculating on India’s plans around Jasprit Bumrah, who may be rested in the next match. “That is India’s problem to deal with,” he remarked when asked about the possibility of Bumrah playing in the second Test.England, coming off a memorable win, have announced an unchanged XI for the second Rothesay Test. Their lineup features a solid top five — Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook — with Jamie Smith continuing behind the stumps. The seam attack of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue, backed by spinner Shoaib Bashir, offers both pace and control.While Jofra Archer’s Test return remains on hold due to a family emergency, Stokes underlined the importance of his presence around the squad. “It’s been a long time since Jof’s been in a Test environment. It’s great for the team and hopefully he plays a part in the series,” he said.Despite holding a 1-0 lead, Stokes made it clear England aren’t getting carried away. “It was a good week last week, but we’re getting back to zero for this game. We’re confident in our ability to chase anything in the fourth innings.”India, meanwhile, will look to regroup after the collapse in Leeds. With selection changes expected — possibly two spinners and a shake-up in the lower middle order — the second Test could be a defining chapter in what is shaping up to be a high-quality series.England Confirmed XI vs India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
