Team India suffered a 227-run defeat at the hands of England in the first Test in Chennai on Tuesday (February 9).
Chasing 420 in the fourth innings, the hosts got bowled out for 192. Apart from skipper Virat Kohli (72) and opener Shubman Gill (50), none of the batsmen managed to touch the 20-run mark in the second essay.
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After such a heavy loss, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels that India need to work on specific areas before they move to the second Test, scheduled to start on February 13 at Chepauk.
According to Gavaskar, the home may include wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the next match in place of Washington Sundar or Shahbaz Nadeem, who struggled badly in the series opener and bowled quite a few no-balls.
“Maybe in the hindsight, they could have included Kuldeep Yadav – a bit of variety. Because you have two off-spinners – Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Ashwin is slower in the air and Sundar is slightly quicker. But it was difficult to drop Sundar after his heroics in the Brisbane game. And he showed that he deserved a place in the team with his 85 not-out in the first innings.
“But maybe, I think, Shahbaz Nadeem got just a little bit of nervous. I’m not even talking about the way he bowls but the no-balls – it’s always an indication that the bowler is a little too anxious. And particularly spinner – anxious to get it going. And when that happens, you tend to overstep.
“It happened with Ashwin as well. After a long time, he bowled a no-ball. So yes, those are the areas India to need to look at.
“Maybe they will bring Kuldeep Yadav for the next Test in place of Nadeem or Washington Sundar, whoever it is. But they need to look at dismissing England for lesser than what they scored this around,” Gavaskar said while speaking on Star Sports Network.
The former opening batsman also opined that India’s fielding needs improvement going into the second Test.
“It’s not just the no-ball, it’s just the whole attitude which was slightly different in the sense that England were very-very determined. On the other hand, a couple of these half-chances going and then, there was a run-out opportunity; so, in a way that is an area where India need to improve as well.
“Because when you field well when you take extra-ordinary catches, you lift the bowler up, you lift everybody else up. The others want to emulate you. An that’s the area India will be working hard over the next couple of days,” said Gavaskar.
