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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Feb 02, 2024, 09:12:05 IST
An under-pressure and under-resourced India will need to think out of the box to counter England's fearless bunch of 'Bazballers' in the second Test beginning today. India are seldom stretched at home but following a dramatic loss in Hyderabad, they have plenty to ponder and the absence of injured Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul has made their task tougher. Three years ago, the mighty hosts found themselves in a similar situation having lost the opening Test to England at Chennai but bounced back to win the series.Read Less
The captain of England, Ben Stokes says that they would have batted first as well. Mentions that it was a great last week but they have taken that out of their minds. Adds that they are concentrating on this week and expect India to come hard. Shares that it is an atmosphere in itself to play in India. Reckons that getting such an opportunity at the start of their career will do wonders for the debutants. Informs that Shoaib Bashir makes his Test debut and he replaces Jack Leach and James Anderson comes in for Mark Wood.
Rohit Sharma, the skipper of India, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a very good wicket to bat on early in the Test and try getting a good first-inning score to bowl with. Adds by saying that losing a Test match is part and parcel of the game, it’s important how a team comes back after that and India exactly wants to do that and play well. Informs that KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja miss out as does Mohammed Siraj, who has been rested. Ends by informing that Mukesh Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav come in along with Rajat Patidar who makes his Test debut.
England (Playing XI) - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir (On Test debut) (In for Jack Leach), James Anderson (In for Mark Wood).
India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar (On Test debut) (In for KL Rahul), Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar (In for Mohammed Siraj), Kuldeep Yadav (In for Ravindra Jadeja).
TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in the favour of India and they have opted to BAT first.
PITCH REPORT - Dinesh Karthik is near the deck. Eoin Morgan says that it is an absolute beauty to bat on. Reckons that it will be about how England adapt to these conditions which are excellent to bat. Reckons that James Anderson will have an impact at some stage. Karthik says that the top layer is of black soil and under it is red soil. Feels that there will be turn but not too much on Day 1. Further adds that the first two batters will belong to batters and spinners will come into play as the Test progresses.
England batters, led by Ollie Pope, swept and reverse swept their way to success in the first Test, taking Rohit and his bunch by surprise, while making the most potent spin trio in the world look ordinary.
India won't have the luxury of fielding Jadeja in this game but Ashwin, four shy of the 500-wicket milestone in Tests, and Axar will need to redraw their plans to come back hard at their uber-aggressive opponents who are sure to employ the sweeping tactics irrespective of the conditions.
However, the Joe Root-led side was a different breed then and this time India plan to fightback against a team that has redefined the way Test cricket is played and defied all probability to win the series opener after conceding a 190-run lead on a turning track.
Three years ago, the mighty hosts found themselves in a similar situation having lost the opening Test to England at Chennai but bounced back to win the series.
India are seldom stretched at home but following a dramatic loss in Hyderabad, they have plenty to ponder and the absence of injured Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul has made their task tougher.
An under-pressure and under-resourced India will need to think out of the box to counter England's fearless bunch of 'Bazballers' in the second Test beginning today.
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