Before this test match, the Indian team was heavily criticised for its lack of application against swing bowling. While Indian Batsmen could have played it better, the fact that India lost the match really masked the shortcomings of English batting. England apparently isn’t either too good against the moving ball and it cut a sorry picture against Hardik Pandya’s inspired spell(5 for 28 in 6 overs). They lost all wickets in the session and is trailing behind by 168 runs. Check out the batting card.
Indian bowlers bowled poorly in the first session but compensated well for it in the second. With the conditions offering a lot for the bowlers, it really was about landing the ball in the right areas. Indian bowlers bowled tighter lines and didn’t experiment much. Pandya was introduced much later into the attack but was quick to find his line and length. He picked up an impressive five for and will give his dreams of becoming a proper all-rounder a lot of fuel.
India could have restricted England to a smaller score had they tried to deny Butler a single off the last two balls of the overs he played in order to have an extended go at James Anderson. But Kohli seemed too preoccupied with thoughts of the batting to come next and lost the focus on the state of the match. Jos Butler, meanwhile made a quick 39 runs smashing bowlers to all sides.
SEE ALSO: England Makes a Strong Comeback into the Test Match. India Going Down?
England is still trailing behind by 168 runs and India will need to bat carefully and take a lead of around 350. If Indian bowlers can replicate the discipline it showed in this match, I think the game will be in be Indias Pocket.
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