Former Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane has spoken about a massive problem for the Indian team ahead of the fifth Test at The Oval. His comments came despite India’s brilliant effort to eke out a draw in the fourth Test in Manchester.
India ending the fourth Test in a draw has helped them keep the series alive heading into the fifth Test. They will need to win the final Test to level the series. A draw at The Oval would mean that India would lose the series 2-1.
Indian batters Shubman Gill and KL Rahul and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar made a brilliant defiance of England’s bowlers after they lost wickets in the very first over of the second innings.
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Bumrah, Siraj Not Getting The Support - Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane has pinpointed that India’s bowling group remains a concern ahead of the fifth Test. He said that the senior bowlers are not getting the support from the rest of the seamers. Jasprit Bumrah has already played three Tests, while Md Siraj has played all four. The rest of the seamers have been rotated by the management.
"The India team is playing well, and the batting unit has been fantastic. What concerns the Indian team is the bowling department. A couple of bowlers are bowling well, but they are not getting the support," Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, ahead of the fifth Test, Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that all Indian bowlers are fit, leading into the fifth Test. Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh were dealing with injuries, while Bumrah’s workload management is still a concern. The other big debate has been about why Kuldeep Yadav has not been given a game yet. It will be interesting to see what bowling combination India plays with in the final Test.
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Players Deserve More Credit Than Gambhir - Manjrekar
Meanwhile, former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar said that the Indian players need to be credited more for the fightback they have shown instead of Gautam Gambhir’s tactics.
"India have performed well despite some of his tactical missteps. Let's not forget: India were swept 3-0 at home by New Zealand, who then lost comfortably to Australia. The fight we've seen? That's the players' grit. Tactically, Gambhir hasn't always made it easier, particularly with selections," Manjrekar said on Sony Sports after the conclusion of the 4th Test.
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