Picture Credit: Twitter
As England beat India in the fifth rescheduled Test to level the five-match series 2-2 and deny India a historic series win on England soil, many questioned team India’s tactics. Questions were raised on team selection as well. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria also joined to criticize team India’s team selection for the fifth rescheduled Test.
Kaneria questioned star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion from the playing eleven and blamed head coach Rahul Dravid for the decision. The former Pakistan cricketer said that Dravid, having played in England should have assessed the conditions better. He also said that India made mistakes and hence paid the price.
"Winning to losing position team India at Edgbaston. Why Ravichandran Ashwin was not in playing eleven who made the call, Dravid, as coach played so much in England, know the condition very well it's England summer where the wickets get baked and dry and from day 3 ball gets to spin, where there is seam it will spin because of moisture. Only Bumrah looks that he can do wonders. India made the mistake and paying the price," Kaneria said on the Koo app.
Notably, India played with four fast bowlers and one spinner. While Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur formed the pace quartet, Ravindra Jadeja was the lone spinner in the side who bowled a total of 20.4 overs in the match. The left-arm orthodox also failed to get any wicket.
Root-Bairstow keep India wanting
Coming to the match, a revamped England proved too hot to handle for India who were in complete control of the match till the third day. Having posted a target of 378 for England to win the match, India were fancying their chances as they had bowled out England for 284 in the first innings. But things went south right from the start for the hosts. A century-opening stand between Alex Lees and Zak Crawley pushed India on the back foot.
The Jasprit Bumrah-led team, however, made a comeback with three quick wickets but the next English batting pair of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow kept India wanting for a wicket. Eventually, Root and Bairstow won the match for England with an unbeaten partnership of 269.