Trailing 1-0 in the ongoing five-match series, India faces the challenge of performing under pressure as they take on England in the second Test starting on Friday, February 2, in Visakhapatnam.
The home team has not secured a victory in three consecutive home Tests, a streak that commenced with a less-than-convincing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
The mounting pressure on the two-time World Test Championship (WTC) finalists has resulted in their decline to the fifth position in the 2023-25 standings.
How can Rohit Sharma and his team get their Test series back on course? Perhaps they need to draw inspiration from their opponents while addressing the numerous mistakes made in Hyderabad.
Here are the three key aspects To secure a victory against England in the second Test:
#1 India should adopt an aggressive approach against England’s spinners
England has declared their playing eleven for the second Test, featuring only one fast bowler. Shoaib Bashir, Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, and Joe Root will be handling the spin duties in Vizag.
While Hartley proved effective in Hyderabad, he should be subjected to pressure in the upcoming Test. Yashasvi Jaiswal exemplified this approach in the previous game, disrupting the left-arm spinner’s lengths by playing attacking shots during the first innings.
On the other hand, debutant Bashir and leg-spinner Rehan should also be targeted. Their accuracy might waver if Indian batters adopt an aggressive stance. Once this occurs, India would be better equipped to counter the opposition bowlers, even on a turning pitch.
#2 Rohit Sharma should adopt an aggressive and proactive approach in his captaincy
Rohit Sharma’s lackluster leadership played a significant role in India’s loss in the first Test. Unless the captain adopts a more assertive and proactive stance, the hosts might struggle to secure a victory in Vizag.
Rohit should not be caught off guard by the unconventional approach of the English batters. It is crucial to maintain high intensity, preventing easy singles across the ground, especially when new players are at the crease.
Having fielders in catching positions and embracing a more daring strategy will be vital for India to counter the Bazball. In Vizag, Rohit’s captaincy must be less conventional, and if drawing inspiration from Ben Stokes facilitates that change, it should be embraced.
#3 India should prioritize a strong batting lineup and a spin-heavy bowling attack
With the absence of key players like KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami, India’s strongest XI for the second Test appears significantly depleted. To compensate for this, the hosts may need to reinforce their primary strengths.
After the batting lineup faltered in Hyderabad and weakened further due to injuries to Rahul and Jadeja, India might consider playing an additional batter to fill the gaps, even if it means going with just four bowling options.
Considering the likelihood of a turning track in the second Test, England has already included four spinners in their XI. India may need to follow a similar approach, opting for players like Kuldeep Yadav and possibly Washington Sundar to leverage their most potent skill set.
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