Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra is backing Team India to win the fourth Test match at The Oval, but he feels the way to win isn't going to be easy for them. India are currently 171 runs ahead of England in the second innings, as they scored 270/3 at the end of Day 3.
Chopra pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah's slight niggle may trouble the Indian team when they come out to defend their lead. He said it could well be the reason they will probably have to fight hard to go 2-1 up in the series.
"If their opening partnership is good, you will have to put in a lot of effort in the bowling. We have Bumrah, who was feeling a slight niggle, the hamstring was getting slightly tight and he has played four continuous Test matches," he said on his YouTube channel.
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Chopra further added that Indian bowlers aren't as good as the one in Lord's where Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma were also playing. India have come out with four fast bowlers in the fourth Test as well, but they have less experienced Shardul Thakur and at times inconsistent Umesh Yadav.
"You have Umesh Yadav, who can pick wickets but can be expensive. Shardul Thakur, may not be the same penetration. I am comparing this bowling attack with the one at Lord's, which in the end had got England all out in 50 overs. There you had Ishant, Shami, and Bumrah and it was the second match of the series," he said in the video.
The pitch has got easy to bat at The Oval and Chopra said it will remain flat in the rest of the match as well, which could help England chase down a modest total with ease. "The pitch is not going to change, it is flat. The opposing team's batting now has slight depth and form. So, I think we are in for a humdinger of a game. If you score less than 250, it will be tantalizingly balanced."
"If you reach close to 300, the match will start turning towards India but I get the feeling that England is not going to accept defeat that easily. I feel India will still win but not without England putting up a very serious fight," he said.
