Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has advised India to make one change in their playing XI for the fourth Test against England, starting July 23 at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. He feels the team should include one more bowler. Rahane said that while the Indian batters are doing well, the team needs to focus on taking 20 wickets to win a Test match. India lost the third Test at Lord’s by 22 runs, and Rahane believes better bowling options could help turn things around.
The third Test was a humdinger. India were chasing 193 in the final innings but were bowled out for 170. They began the last day at 58/4 with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant at the crease. But England struck early. India lost three wickets for just 24 runs in the first hour, falling to 82/7. The middle-order collapsed and it looked like the match would end quickly.
However, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy gave India some hope with a fighting partnership. Reddy was dismissed just before lunch by Chris Woakes but Jadeja continued to battle. In the end, India fell short as England took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Also read: ‘I still want to play Test cricket’: Ajinkya Rahane optimistic of playing for India again
Ajinkya Rahane Wants India to Play an Extra Bowler in 4th Test vs England
In his analysis of the match, Ajinkya Rahane felt that India missed an opportunity to gain a substantial first-innings lead.
He also made a strong case for a change in team composition ahead of the fourth Test, suggesting India to play with one extra bowler.
"But I felt India missed an opportunity to get that big score on the board in the first innings. And also, I feel going forward, India should look to add one extra bowler, because you’re going to win a Test match or a Test series by getting 20 wickets. Indian batting unit at the moment are batting really well. So the question is, do you want to have that extra batter or an extra bowler?" Rahane said as quoted on his YouTube channel.
Notably, India played with three fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy as the fourth pace option at Lord's. Jadeja and Washington Sundar were the two spinners.
Ajinkya Rahane Points to Karun Nair’s Dismissal as Lord’s Turning Point
Rahane also pointed out that Karun Nair’s dismissal in the second innings was the turning point and shifted momentum in England’s favour. Nair, who has been under scrutiny after a lukewarm return to the Test side, was dismissed leg-before off Brydon Carse after scoring 40 runs.
"At that point in time, India were cruising. 40-odd for one, but lbw of Karun Nair that changed the game for India and England. I thought England came back in the game really well and after that, they started bowling well, their intensity on the field, their fielders, the character which they showed was amazing," Rahane added.
Nair is making a return to the Indian team after eight years. He has scored 131 runs in six innings in this series but has not been able to play a big knock yet. His place in the team could come under review as India prepare for the fourth Test.
