IND vs ENG 2nd Test: India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill face an acid test when they take on England in the second game of the five-match series on Wednesday.

Even before a ball has been bowled, India spinner R Ashwin has stated that this game will answer the serious question of whether Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill are committed to taking 20 wickets.

“There is a serious question of Gambhir and Gill’s commitment to take 210 wickets. This Test will show us. If you are seriously committed, Kuldeep gets a look-in,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Kuldeep Yadav has to play. If there is not much grass, Kuldeep has to play. Drop anyone you want, but Kuldeep has to play. If he does play, the England tail also won’t score many runs. Kuldeep would help you win 2-3 Tests in the series as he would create problems.”

However, Ashwin did not back the call for too many changes and said, “I sort of agree but am not a big fan of too many changes. So if Kuldeep comes in for Shardul Thakur, I would retain Prasidh Krishna, as he showed in the second innings of the first Test that when he bowls well, he could do it. I would also think about the left-arm angle of Arshdeep Singh, but since he is still not a proven commodity in Test cricket, let’s not forget what Akash Deep can do. I am okay with either Akash Deep/Arshdeep in case Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t play.”

When asked if Nitish Kumar Reddy should replace either Karun Nair or Sai Sudarshan, Ashwin said, “I know for a fact that this management really rates Nitish Reddy.”

According to Ashwin, spin might have more of a say in the first three days at Edgbaston. “Edgbaston is one of the rare groups in England, along with Headingley, where the first test was played, where there might be some bounce. Largely in the first three days, there will definitely be spin. In the back half of the game, the spin will reduce but it will have a chance. I liked bowling with the new(ish) ball in Edgbaston.” In the 2018 Test against England at this venue, Ashwin had bowled Alastair Cook in both innings with rippers that swerved in from around the stumps and spun quickly, past the defensive prod, to knock back the off stump.