India’s performance in Test cricket saw a steep decline in the last few months, suffering defeats to New Zealand and Australia, which also knocked them out of the World Test Championship final (WTC) race.
The series defeat to New Zealand was a shocker as India are a formidable force at home, and to go down 3-0 to a team that is not known to be great against the spinners was embarrassing. The Australia tour started on a positive note, with India winning the first Test, however, Australia bounced back strong to win the series 3-1. India had Australia under pressure on quite a few occasions, but they couldn’t capitalise and let Australia run away with the game. There were two major reasons for India’s poor results in Australia. The form of senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, among others, was a concern, but the lack of a formidable attack was a bigger problem. Mohammed Siraj wasn’t in the best form, while the team did not have the services of Mohammed Shami. All the pressure was on Jasprit Bumrah to lead the attack, and he did trouble the Aussies, but winning a series needs a lot more effort than an individual performance. India will begin the next WTC cycle against England in June this year, and the issues remain the same for Team India. India did well when they last toured England and drew the series 2-2, however, they’ll need to be at their best to win the series.
Shastri Pins Hopes On Bumrah, Shami, Siraj
Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri weighed in on India’s chances on the England tour and said if the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Siraj can stay fit, India could give England a hard time.”I think with Siraj, Jasprit and Mohammed Shami, these three, if they are fully fit, they will give England heaps of problems,” Shastri said.”It’s a quality, top-class pace attack when you get these three fit. And what I like about Siraj, I’m glad he was hurt after being put out, not in the side for the Champions Trophy. That’s what you want.”For him to go back to the drawing board and come back the way he has, there’s a spring in his stride, the pace is up there, and he means business game after game. And that is perfect from India’s point of view with England coming up.”Shastri further said India need to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload during the England tour. Bumrah played all five Tests in Australia and broke down in the fifth Test, forcing him to miss the ICC Champions Trophy.”I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah],” Shastri added. “I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break.”Ideally, make him play four. You’ll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it’s how his body pulls up.”He should be given the first opportunity to say, ‘Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.’ Give him that break.”