Rajkot Test: India look to embrace transition phase rehearsal as refreshed England eye another Bazball punch
Yes, the wait is over, nearly over. There was a 9-day break between the second and third Tests.
In what has been one of the most intense home series India have had in years, 7 years to be precise. England have flown back from their break in Abu Dhabi and India players have returned to duty mode after having spent time with their families.
The action shifts to Rajkot where the two teams will resume what has resembled an evenly-contested boxing bout. England threw the first punch in Hyderabad after nearly getting knocked out. India relied on individual brilliance to strike back in Visakhapatnam. The next blow could be decisive.
Not often have touring teams come to India and managed to be as competitive as Ben Stokes’s England. Yes, with their much-talked-about Bazball approach, England have been brave and not gone into a shell when put under pressure. England have swept, reverse-swept to neutralise their main threat, the Indian spinners and they have found success too. England spinners, a bunch of rookies with very little first-class experience, have managed to outbowl some of the best in the business – R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Before Hyderabad, have we ever seen Ashwin and Jadeja conceding 100-plus in the same innings of a Test match? When did you last see Ashwin going wicketless in India? It’s taken him 2 Tests to get 9 wickets. Yes, by Ashwin’s standards, that’s slow. Ain’t it?
England’s backing of their inexperienced spinners has worked wonders. Tom Hartley is the latest in the assembly line of rookie left-arm spinners troubling India. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have excelled in terms of clarity, knowing their strengths and weaknesses well. Not often can you say that a McCullum-coached side has kept it simple. But, England have, in this series.
THE START OF A TRANSITION PERIOD?
That said, India have been struggling to be their dominant self at home because of being hamstrung by player availability issues. Virat Kohli, who was ruled out of the first two Tests initially has withdrawn from the remainder of the series due to personal reasons. KL Rahul, who missed the second Test, will not be available for the third too. Ravindra Jadeja missed the second. Shreyas Iyer, who was seen as a spin destroyer, has not been picked for the last 3 Tests due to a dip in form.
India are likely to field one of their most inexperienced batting units in Rajkot. If pre-match buzz is anything to by, India are likely to field two debutants in their top 7 in Sarfaraz Khan and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
Having moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, India are left with no option but to back their young guns in what seems to be a dress rehearsal of an imminent transition period. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a revelation. Shubman Gill repaid the faith that the team management showed in him in the 2nd Test with a game-changing hundred in the second innings.
Ravindra Jadeja, speaking to the press on the eve of the Rajkot Test, talked up the bench strength, saying the newcomers have had success in domestic red-ball cricket.
“No, no. The new lads have played a lot of first-class. It’s not like they were picked in the side after one-and-a-half good seasons in first-class cricket. They are all finished products. They have an idea of how to play long innings,” Jadeja said, highlighting the success that the likes of Sarfaraz have had in domestic cricket.
This was supposed to happen right? Whether it happens two years later or now, it’s good for them and good for the team too. It’s good that they are getting chances at home and they will be able to find their feet. Home conditions are ideal for them. They know the nature of the pitches. This is a good time for them and use the opportunity,” Jadeja added.
HOW WILL THE RAJKOT PITCH PLAY?
Nonetheless, England will sense an opportunity to put the Indian team under pressure. The pitch in Rajkot, as confirmed by local hero Ravindra Jadeja, is not going to be a rank-turner. Pundits are predicting a batting paradise and if luck goes Ben Stokes’s way at the toss, the tourists will back themselves to go big and showcase Bazball in its full glory.
Like Rahul Dravid pointed, England’s batting unit has a bulk of experience. Ben Stokes, playing in his 100th Test, will be keen on leading the show, while Joe Root, who hasn’t arrived at the party in India, will be looking to make up for the failures in the first two Tests.
Yes, Jasprit Bumrah’s reverse swing masterclass in Vizag would have given the England batters sleepless nights in Abu Dhabi, but India would also want their lead spinners to buckle up and return to their menacing best at home.
TEAM NEWS: INDIA VS ENGLAND, 3RD TEST
England have added an extra pacer in Mark Wood after dropping Shoaib Bashir. Yes, Wood was underwhelming in the first Test in Hyderabad. However, Ben Stokes expects Wood to operate with more freedom and clarity, given he has the wily James Anderson for support.
On the other hand, India are likely to have Mohammed Siraj, who was rested for the 2nd Test, back to pair with Jasprit Bumrah. As things stand, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will be battling for a spinner’s spot as Ravindra Jadeja is all set to return to action.
Dhruv Jurel has been putting in the hard yards at the nets in Rajkot and he is likely to replace KS Bharat, who has not made his opportunities count, especially with the bat. India included Devdutt Padikkal in the squad, but Rajat Patidar is likely to retain his place and Sarfaraz Khan is likely to get a much-awaited Test debut.