Day 1, 4th Test match between India and England:
Ultra-defensive approach from #England here.
They have picked 8 batsmen and 3 bowlers. Yes Stokes and Root can bowl, but this can backfire.
Now, look at the first wicket #AxarPatel got today, there was nothing wrong with pitch, ball didn't even turn, it's all in the mind of the batsman #DomSibley who just stood there doing nothing and got bowled inside-edge to a straight ball. After that, #Crawley threw wicket away by trying to go over the top before getting set. If this is how they are going to bat, then Axar will get them out even on glass or cement.
Some former English players have been unfairly critical of the wickets. Especially their former captain #MichaelVaughan really needs to stop this nonsense, he is just looking for attention and embarrassing himself.
You can't blame the wicket all the time. Technique and temperament of the batsmen are needed to be questioned.
#Sundar and #Siraj got prized wickets of #BenStokes and #JoeRoot respectively.
#Ashwin and #Axar bowled the rest of the side out without breaking much sweat and restricted England to only 205 on Day 1.
Day 2, 4th Test match between India and England:
Once again #RishabhPant and #WashingtonSundar came in when India were in deep trouble and they have bailed us out.
Unbelievable hundred by Rishabh Pant and equally well supported by Sundar from other end who himself has gone past 50. That reverse sweep boundary over slip cordon hit by Rishabh Pant off #Anderson was unbelievable, the second new ball had just been taken 2 overs ago and he was facing swing king Jimmy Anderson. Once the new ball was taken, Pant hit two fours in Anderson's first over and Sundar hit two boundaries in Stokes's over. So the onslaught had started before Pant played that shot, still to play that shot while on 89 is just incredible, audacity and talent of different level.
As I predicted before -England going in with only 3 bowlers might backfire and it has backfired despite #BenStokes bowling his heart out and getting wickets of #RohitSharma and #ViratKohli, because in these hot conditions you always need an extra bowler and they went with one bowler short, also their two main spinners #Leach and #Bess haven't been effective enough and haven't bowled enough, so that put more pressure on Anderson, Stokes and #Root who employed himself as fifth bowler. Ben Stokes is tired beyond limit and yet he is asked to bowl again and again, this is only helping Indians as they are milking runs off him.
Pant and Sundar wore bowlers down with patient approach early on and then attacked to take India's lead to 50+ now. Incredible temperament from both young players. Sundar also got the wicket of Stokes yesterday with beautifully bowled arm ball. So great all round contribution from him in his short career so far.
Hope #AxarParel will provide something with bat today and take India's lead close to 100.
Now India is in driver's seat to win this game. India's bowlers will be fresh tomorrow to attack English Batsmen in third innings and it's not going to be easy at all for the English team.
- Onkar Karandikar
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