After 15 thrilling days of cricketing action in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, India and England are all set to lock horns in Manchester for the 4th Test of the series starting on July 23rd.
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With three games into the series, India is trailing 2-1 and faces a do-or-die match ahead of them. India has had their chances in the series and have dominated the majority of the first three games, however, managing to win just one.
Former Indian legend Farokh Engineer has now sparked a debate, stating that India could have already won the series, coming into the 4th Test had Kuldeep Yadav been a part of the playing XI. Engineer also believes that India should bring in Sai Sudharsan back at the top, batting at 3.
Why Farokh Engineer wants Sai Sudharsan back in India’s XI for 4th Test
The young Indian batter, Sai Sudharsan, who made his debut in the Test at Headingley, was benched for the next two games. Sai did not have an ideal start to his career, scoring 0 and 30 in his first two innings as a Test cricketer for India, and was replaced by Karun Nair at 3, who has not managed to convert starts in the series.
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Farokh Engineer, the Indian great, believes that it's time for India to bring back Sudharsan at 3, replacing Karun Nair, who hasn't managed to get big scores.
Talking to Revsportz, Engineer stated, “For a number 3 batsman, you don't expect Karun to get a beautiful 20 or 30, he has to score big hundreds. No. 3 is the most important position, and you're supposed to be the best batsman to play at that position.” Engineer added that India has a solid opening combination and a No.4 batter, and they need good support. “Karun has failed to do that, so why not give Sai Sudarshan a chance to come and see how he can do?”
The Indian great also mentioned that India should go ahead with Kuldeep Yadav as a wicket-taking option for the next Test. He heaped praises for the Chinaman bowler calling him a match winner and also stated that had he been in the XI, India would have already won the series.
“Instead of Nitish try Kuldeep Yadav, depending on the wicket…Kuldeep Yadav can spin the ball, he's a genuine wrist spinner… had he been there in the team in the first three Tests, we would have won the series by now, because it turned at Lord’s, it turned at headingley, it turned at Edgbaston…the Old Trafford wicket is known to turn and Kuldeep can turn them on good wickets.”
Engineer further added that can not rely just on the pace trio of Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep, Kuldeep can help ease the pressure of the pacers and take wickets.
India are heading into Manchester on the back of a heart-breaking defeat at Lord's. With Manchester, a venue where India have never won a Test match, the challenges that lie ahead for the young visitors side are even tougher.