Former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar feels that the pressure is on England rather than on India ahead of the fifth rescheduled Test match, starting from July 1 at the Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Indian team is leading the five-match Test series 2-1, after securing a brilliant win last year in the fourth Test match. The fifth Test match had to be postponed last year, due to a covid-19 outbreak in the Indian team.
The hosts, England are coming on the back of a thumping win over World Test champions New Zealand. They whitewashed the three-match Test series at home. However, with the Pataudi Trophy at the stake against India, England will be under pressure heading into the fifth Test match.
During a virtual media interaction on Tuesday organized by Sony Pictures Network, the broadcaster for India’s tour of England, former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar said, as quoted by Mid-day,
“The pressure is on England to square the series rather than on India. So, it’s England who should ideally be worried and not India.”
All-rounder Ben Stokes will be leading the England team in the fifth Test match against India. The England selectors added wicket-keeper batter Sam Billings to the 15-man squad.
England have added Sam Billings to their squad for the rearranged fifth #ENGvIND Test, which begins on Friday at Edgbaston pic.twitter.com/yTD21up7Z6
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 27, 2022
I would think that’s the way they go: Ajit Agarkar feels India should play Shardul Thakur in the fifth Test
Former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar feels India should go ahead with Shardul Thakur for the fifth Test match. He reasoned, that Shardul is a very handy lower-order batter, and will be an effective pacer in seaming conditions. Ajit stated,
“Shardul offers a bit more with the bat at No.8. Also, if there is likely help for the seamers, then he becomes even more effective. So, I would think that’s the way they go. Otherwise, the tail becomes too long, if at eight, you look at someone like Umesh [Yadav] or even Prasidh Krishna is part of the squad. But I think, Shardul will probably make [the cut] if they go with four seamers.”
The Indian cricket team is likely to be without the services of their skipper Rohit Sharma. He is under isolation, after testing positive for the covid-19 virus. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead the Indian team in the fifth Test.
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