Team India faced a defeat in the first Test match against England by 28 runs. Indian batting line-up collapsed in front of English bowling, especially in the second innings. The Indian batters failed to make a long and impactful partnership on the team’s needs. With that win, England got the lead of the series by 1-0. After watching this batting disaster, former Indian player Parthiv Patel opened up about his thoughts.
India’s Performance:
After a long break, Team India is meeting England in a five-match Test series on home soil. The first Test was organized in Hyderabad. In the first Test, Ben Stokes‘ team, led by Ollie Pope’s impressive 196, set a challenging target of 231 for India. Despite contributions from Rehan Ahmed and debutant Tom Hartley, who added 62 runs, India’s batting lineup, which had been aggressive in the first innings, unexpectedly turned defensive in the second innings. They were all out for 202 runs in 69.2 overs.
This departure from their previous approach played into England’s hands-on Day 4 due to the sluggish pitch and chase pressure. Debutant Tom Hartley impressed with a five-wicket haul, ending with figures of 7/62. Joe Root and Jack Leach also contributed with a wicket each as England started their 2024 Test tour with a win.
England had only one frontline pacer, Mark Wood, and three spinners, Jack Leach, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed. In contrast, India played Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj alongside spin trio Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Bumrah played a significant role, taking six wickets, while Siraj went wicketless in both innings, bowling only a few overs.
Parthiv Patel’s Thoughts:
Ex-India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel suggested that India should have included an additional batsman instead of Siraj, who was used sparingly. He said, “There is no doubt that 3 spinners are enough, but I have a different perspective. You have used Siraj for only 6 or 7 overs throughout the Test match. Axar Patel played ahead of Kuldeep Yadav due to his batting abilities, as mentioned by Rohit Sharma before the Test match. If you need variety, you could pick Kuldeep ahead of Axar.”
Later he added, “And if you are not using Siraj much, then why not play an extra pure batter. So, you will have three types of bowlers in Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep, and the extra batter will add depth to the batting. And there’s no point playing someone if you are going to give him only 7 overs.”
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
