India Need To Take A Significant Lead To Put Pressure On England: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra opined that Team India needs to score big in their first innings and take a sizeable lead after having bowled England out for 183 on Day 1.
Former Indian cricketer and now commentator Aakash Chopra reckoned that team India should think of taking a considerable lead after having England bowled out for 183 on Day 1 of the match.
Virat Kohli’s decision of dropping R Ashwin and going up with only one spinner in the form of Ravindra Jadeja didn’t haunt team India as all of their pacers shined with the ball on Day 1 of the match with Jasprit Bumrah taking 4 wickets, Mohammed Shami picking 3 wickets, Shardul Thakur bagging 2 wickets while Siraj having one.
“Team India are in a good position. As it is always said, the first hour will be very important (on Day 2). India will need to bat well in the first innings because they have to bat last in this Test match. They will thus need to gain a significant lead and only then they will be able to put pressure on England. A slender lead of 35-40 runs is not a lead at all,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.
Coming to bat, the new opening pair of India – Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul looked comfortable while batting in the final hours of the match and didn’t take a risk with ending their day scoring 21 runs in 13 overs, with Rohit Sharma smashing 9 off 40 deliveries and KL Rahul smashing 9 off 39 balls.
Aakash Chopra further highlighted the challenges team India might face while batting fourth at Trent Bridge. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that the visitors should be determined to make full use of this advantage given to them by their bowlers.
“Team India will have to bat fourth on a surface that is not like a typical English surface. There are some cracks and there is variable bounce as well. At times, the ball is even stopping at the batsman. Team India do not want to chase more than 100-125 in the last innings. That is why they need to bat really well in the first innings and put up a big score,” he added.
