Team India after registering an epic win over England in the second Test at Lord’s, had a poor Day one in the third Test at Headingley after being bundled out for just 78 runs, and the hosts ended the day on 120/0 securing a lead of 42 runs to put a lot of pressure on India.
While England’s new opening pair of Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns both were off to a great start, the former India pacer Ajit Agarkar questioned Virat Kohli’s tactics as he decided to open the bowling with Ishant Sharma who offered a lot of freebies to the English batters to ease their stay at the crease.
“I think Ishant Sharma started with some nice, friendly deliveries outside off, exactly what India didn't need after getting only 78 runs on the board. It looked that way (looked a bit gingerly). You think that after Lord's, he was again slow today.
That's why you have to question why he was given the first over. I know he is the senior guy with a lot of experience. But at the moment, there are two guys who are better than him at the moment in the team,” Agarkar told Sony Sports.
As the visitors were all-out with just 78 runs, Agarkar felt that India were in desperate need of quick wickets and since Ishant Shrma was not at his best, he didn’t look like a good choice to open the bowling.
“Having been bowled out for 78, that was a decision that they had to make. It may not have worked but bowling Ishant Sharma didn't look at the right decision. India bowlers were desperate to get wickets,” the right-arm quick said.
The 32-year-old from Delhi bowled 7 overs and conceded 26 runs and was the only bowler to finish Day 1 without a maiden. Bumrah and Shami bowled 18 overs between them and managed to keep things tight, whereas Siraj who also bolwed 7 overs failed to trouble England openers.
“He (Virat Kohli) knew towards the end of the day's play who his best bowlers were. It was pretty evident, England was a lot tighter. The conditions were a bit different. England's two tall bowlers got a bit more bounce. India perhaps were a bit desperate to get wickets,” the cricketer-turned-commentator concluded.
(With Sony Sports Inputs)
