India will now play the fourth Test match against England in Manchester from July 23. Ahead of this important match, veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has given an important suggestion to Team India on what changes should be made in the playing XI so that the team can win. So far in this Test series, India has given more importance to all-rounders rather than specialist bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur played in the first Test. Later, Washington Sundar was included in the playing XI in place of Shardul Thakur.
Need for an extra bowler
Washington Sundar may not have performed brilliantly in the second Test, but he proved his usefulness by taking four wickets in the second innings of the Lord’s Test. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja has scored several half-centuries so far in this Test series, but his bowling performance has not been as expected. Amidst all this, Rahane stressed the need to take 20 wickets to win the Test match and advised India to include an extra bowler in the playing XI in Manchester.
Rahane said on his YouTube channel, “We all know that batting on the fourth and fifth day in Test matches is a bit difficult, and scoring runs is not easy. Yes, England bowled well in the third Test match, but I think India missed the opportunity to score big in the first innings. Well, now India should include an extra bowler in the playing XI for the upcoming matches because you can win a Test series only if you take 20 wickets.”
Tough decisions and possible changes
Meanwhile, India will have to make some tough decisions ahead of the fourth Test match. The biggest question will be whether to rest Jasprit Bumrah or not, but the team’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has indicated that India may play Bumrah in Manchester, given the importance of the next match.
Rishabh Pant is unlikely to keep wicket in the next match, so India may consider playing Dhruv Jurel in place of Karun Nair. To include an extra bowler in the squad, especially Kuldeep Yadav, India would have to drop either Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja, but it would be a very difficult decision considering their performances at Lord’s.