Team India: KL Rahul’s approach, sane selection calls are need of the hour | Cricket News


NEW DELHI: India’s batting approach in both Tests against Bangladesh was a far cry from the aggression promised by KL Rahul and the blame stops at the substitute captain’s door after a close shave in the Mirpur game that could have gone the home side’s way.
The Indian bowlers got the expected 40 wickets on the lines but their propensity to let the opposition wag their tails nearly cost them the second Test which was won by three wickets.
The box on day four was tough, but knocking down 145 should have been a simple task for India. Instead, they opted to employ an ultra-defensive technique on a track where it should have been the last option.

In a little chase, leaving that kind of mindset allowed the spinners of Bangladesh to lead the proceedings.
A special position between Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin saved India’s blushes, but the top order’s sub-par performance and a few tactical errors raise many questions for the tougher test that awaits them in the next series at home to Australia.
India need not copy England’s ultra-aggressive style of play known as ‘Bazball’, but Rahul and Co should have pulled a leaf from their book at least by chasing 145.

Chasing 167 on a tricky Karachi pitch, England closed the game racing at 112 for two from 17 overs at the stumps on day three. They finally “shot down” the target in just 28.1 overs the following morning.
India’s elite didn’t need to go hammer and claw like the English, but they could have done a lot more than just defend themselves against the rampaging spinners of Bangladesh.
Skipper Rahul never looked confident in the middle and was sent off with the front foot in both legs. His place in the first Test against Australia in February seems far from certain.

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Key moments: how India managed to seize Mirpur thriller to whitewash Bangladesh

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Key Moments – How India Landed Mirpur Thriller To Whitewash Bangladesh

Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara attempted to break out of the crease against offie Mehidy Hassan Miraz but failed miserably. The current generation’s struggles against the spin are nothing new and their underwhelming performance against Miraz and Co will only leave the much more accomplished Nathan Lyon licking his lips ahead of the series opener in Nagpur.
Virat Kohli’s greatness cannot be disputed, but his 1-for-22 on day three is a run he himself would like to forget. He doesn’t often play the sweep shot but excels at using the crease.
However, he just chose to defend everything on the front foot and it was only a matter of time before he got the ball that had his number.

Among the tactical errors, not playing Kuldeep Yadav after his eight wickets in his Test return stood out.
A third spinner on a spinning track might have helped India finish the game on day three itself.
The series opener was won by a nice margin, but it could have been finished sooner if Rahul had chosen to impose the sequel.
With the World Test Championship final on the line, India will need to be much more positive with their approach while holding the talk of ‘positive intention’ and not just lip service.



malek

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