India vs England 2020-21, 2nd Test: Shahbaz Nadeem set to be dropped, Axar Patel back to training

India is up for a tough clash in the ongoing four-Test series against England, for the Anthony de Mello Trophy. While it was a tough loss for the host in the opening Test, in Chennai, things would be no different in the second Test, at the same venue, as India eyes comeback.

Team India did not have the best of the start against England in the four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy. The opening Test saw the host losing by 227 runs, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai, while the second Test at the same venue is likely to possess the same challenges.

The English outsmarted the Indians in all departments since Day 1. While India failed miserably, especially in the batting, their bowling too was lacklustre. Meanwhile, spinner Shahbaaz Nadeem was highly expensive, giving away 354 runs and managing to claimed just four wickets in the two innings.

In the meantime, if reports are believed, he is all set to be dropped for the second game. As for his replacement, all-rounder Axar Patel is being backed as the ideal one. "Axar had a minor knee niggle and has already started batting at the nets. He is expected to start bowling during the next couple of days. He was always first choice to play the opening Test, but it will depend on skipper Virat Kohli, head coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharath Arun," a BCCI official told PTI.

Furthermore, veteran all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin gave the team management scare after a short ball hit him, from pacer Jofra Archer. However, the PTI report adds no primary injury concern for the local lad, as he is doing fine, while he did not even need to undergo any scans for the same.

Meanwhile, the report also adds that the second Test's pitch is likely to generate more turn than the first. It could be welcome news for Team India skipper, Virat Kohli, and Ashwin, who was highly influential in the first, claiming nine wickets, including a six-for in the second innings.

While the track adjacent to the one played in first would be used, there could likely be some grass on the surface. V Ramesh Kumar, the leading curator of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, and Taposh Chatterjee, the head of BCCI's pitches and grounds committee would look to come up with a track where the toss would hardly have any implications. Meanwhile, the pitch could be left dry for the remaining days, which would allow it to crack early and assist the spinners, right from Day 1.