Just like the Headingley Test, India’s top-order was blown away by the England pacers on Day 1 of the fourth Test at the Oval.
Asked to bat first, the visitors raced away to 28/0 after 7 overs but they lost three wickets in quick succession to find themselves reeling at 39/3.
While Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson dismissed the opening duo of Rohit Sharma (11) and KL Rahul (17) respectively, James Anderson got rid of Cheteshwar Pujara (4) cheaply.
After Pujara’s dismissal, Ravindra Jadeja surprisingly joined skipper Virat Kohli in the middle while vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who usually bats at No. 5, was seen sitting with his gears at the dressing room.
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Jadeja’s arrival to the crease left the cricket fraternity divided even though Rahane is struggling for runs in the ongoing England tour.
While former England captain Nasser Hussain felt it was a tactical move, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said there might have been a possibility of Rahane going for a loo break.
"I don't know the reason. I heard the debate over whether Ajinkya went to the loo. But Jadeja was ready, so he must have been told. So it was more a tactical move," Hussain told Sony Sports during Lunch on Day 1.
"They must have wanted a left-hander in. He is a very fine player. He has got 3 triple hundreds in first-class cricket. The balance of the side still looks a little wonky in England."
Gavaskar pointed out that India may have decided to demote Rishabh Pant to No. 7 after his twin failures in the Leeds Test, where the tourists were thrashed by an innings and 76 runs.
"Ajinkya Rahane came in and sat and put on his gloves. He may have been on a toilet break. Maybe they didn't want to send Pant. Maybe he has been demoted down the order. Jadeja has batted longer in this series than Pant," Gavaskar said.
"I don't know the reason. I heard the debate over whether Ajikya went to the loo. But Jadeja was ready, so he must have been told. So it was more a tactical move. They must have wanted a left-hander in. He is a very fine player. He has got 3 triple hundreds in first-class cricket. Balance of the side still looks a little wonky in England," he added.
Meanwhile, former India batter Ajay Jadeja said Jadeja's elevation in the batting order might send a negative signal to Rahane.
"I am just thinking what Ajinkya Rahane is going through. One of your best batsmen, vice-captain of the side. Even before he has walked in, he has almost got a signal, saying 'we're not too sure about you'," Ajay said.
"It could be the left-hander combination but I am just thinking in terms of someone who is uncertain with not a lot of runs. Before you walk in, you have got Ravindra walking ahead of you and there will be some time, whenever he walks in he is going to be thinking about it."
The move to send Jadeja at No. 5, however, didn’t work as he was dismissed for 10 in the post-lunch session. Woakes removed the southpaw and reduced India to 69/4.
