To put it mildly, India’s batting faltered badly in the fourth innings, with no one looking comfortable in the middle aside from Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. Nitish Kumar Reddy, an all-rounder, offered some aid but was unable to stay long enough. Despite collecting three key wickets in the match, his batting performances have been questioned, and legendary Dilip Vengsarkar has sought his expulsion from the next game.
India lost the third Test of the five-match series against England by a mere 22 runs, with the tourists leaking a few runs during the final session at Lords. One of the reasons for this was the inability to sustain pressure on the opposition and allow them to bat freely, which helped the Ben Stokes-led side post a small but defendable target of 193.
Instead, the former cricketer believes the Indian squad should go with someone like Arshdeep Singh, who is as talented with the ball as anyone. Vengsarkar also questioned Washington Sundar’s inclusion, claiming that only specialist spinners should be chosen, like as left-arm orthodox spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
“I would drop Nitish Kumar Reddy and possibly one more player to make place for Arshdeep [Singh].
I believe Siraj and Bumrah should remain in their positions, although Reddy could move. Kuldeep Yadav might also replace Washington Sundar. To win a Test match, you need five bowlers. If your six hitters can’t put up a good score, the bowlers must accept responsibility. “Part-time bowlers cannot win a Test match,” said Vengsarkar.
“I’d choose Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. Arshdeep is a capable left-arm bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the wicket, which is critical in English conditions. He can also reverse swing the ball, which is crucial. “I’ve seen him bowl,” Vengsarkar, who played 116 Tests for India, said.
Karun Nair needs one more opportunity: Dilip Vengsarkar
The 69-year-old also expressed a strong view on retaining comeback man Karun Nair for the forthcoming match, stating that he has shown promise but has failed to convert his beginnings into large scores that will ultimately aid the team’s cause. Vengsarkar has expressed his desire to give the triple centurion another chance to show himself, as well as to see him score a century in the following game.
“Karun Nair is a skilled player. He has shown potential, but he needs to turn those 30s and 40s into high scores. He’s an experienced player who understands what he needs to do. I would give him another Test match to prove himself. Vengsarkar stated, “He’s capable of scoring a hundred, and I hope he does so in the next match.”
The next encounter is scheduled for Old Trafford in Manchester, and at least a few changes are expected in the Shubman Gill-led team. The match is scheduled to begin on July 23, and if India loses this game, they would finish with a series loss, which will hurt their chances of making the World Test Championship final in 2027.
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