Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes that the Indian team is in the driver’s seat to secure victory in the ongoing Edgbaston Test against England and thereby the series as well.
The rescheduled Test is counted as the last match of India's 2021 series in England, which the visitors lead by 2-1. The fifth Test was postponed at the eleventh hour following a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp.
In the three day’s action so far, Team India have dominated the rescheduled fifth Test under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah.
Riding on Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja's (104) centuries, the tourists posted 416 in their first innings. The hosts, in response, got bowled out for 284, conceding a massive first-innings lead of 132 runs with Mohammed Siraj (4-66) and Bumrah (3-68) starring with the ball.
Batting in the second innings, India were on 125/3 at the close of play on Day 3, extending their lead to 257 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara (50*) and Rishabh Pant (30*) unbeaten in the middle.
"A 257-run lead is a long way now for England to go and chase. India gets another 150 and it's 400, which I think it will be, there is odd bounce, spin will come into play and that might be when Shami gets his reward," Vaughan told Cricbuzz after the third day’s play.
Vaughan also lauded Pujara for his patient knock in the series decider. India’s No. 3 has already faced 139 balls in his unbeaten half-century thus far.
"Give me a Pujara in my Test team any day of the week. As much as you are scared of Pant, Pujara is the kind of glue that every single team needs to frustrate and wear down the bowlers," Vaughan said.
Under the new management of Ben Stoke and Brendon McCullum, England recently whitewashed New Zealand in a three-match Test series at home. However, Vaughan feels India have exposed the weak links of this English team.
"I think the four seamers will do some damage inside the first 25 overs. There will certainly be movement there. This is the difference from playing against New Zealand to what they are playing against India. I feel the tactics have not been quite right in the field. A few of the old traits have returned when they are facing real quality. I see nothing but an India win," he remarked.
