England won the first Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs.
Former England cricketer-turned-commentator Michael Atherton believes that the Ben Stokes-led England cricket team is in a good position to win the ongoing five-match Test series in India.
In his column for the Times, Atherton stressed that it would be disappointing if England failed to win the Test series, especially after gaining a 1-0 lead in the series against India.
Michael Atherton wrote in his column for the Times: “England has moved from heavy second favorites to a situation where it would be a disappointment now if they did not win the series.”
He also pointed out that losing two players, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul—both of whom are injured—in the second Test could affect Team India mentally.
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Atherton further explained, “Such an outcome, so unexpected and so unbelievable given where both teams were on first innings, must have a huge psychological impact, especially given the quick turnaround and the injuries to two of India’s key players, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. England have an excellent chance of building on their lead.”
The former England cricketer felt that the host Indian team missed Virat Kohli in the Hyderabad Test.
He added, “How significant Kohli’s absence became apparent during the first Test, given how badly they missed his appetite for big runs, his safe catching at slip, his ability to withstand pressure, and his passionate attitude in the field.”
Speaking about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, Atherton noted: “Rohit Sharma is a captain in a very different mould from his predecessor [Kohli] — at once more laid-back, albeit not quite so passive as MS Dhoni. As England began to get ahead in Hyderabad, Kohli’s electric presence in the field, as much as anything, was missed.”
He signed off by saying, “It would not have been hard to imagine the way he would have tried to whip up the crowd and the way his energy would have been transmitted to others.”
Meanwhile, India won the toss in the second Test in Vizag and chose to bat first.