Former India head coach and commentator, Ravi Shastri, was surprised to see a "really flat" Indian cricket team on the fifth and final day of the rescheduled Test against England in Birmingham.
He questioned India team's body language, as he felt that the tourists’ looked really flat when they took the field to defend 119 runs on the fifth day, resulting in England easily chasing down the record target of 378 runs to win the rescheduled fifth and final Test to level the series on Tuesday (July 5).
Ravi Shastri told Sky Sports: “What was very surprising is India was really flat in the morning. Really flat. The belief to just pull this off just wasn’t there.”
He also felt Team India missed a trick by not bringing Ravindra Jadeja into the attack earlier on Day 5 against England.
The former coach further explained, “Really, should have been into the attack much earlier, Way too late. India should have focused on just 3 bowlers. There was no need to think of Mohammed Siraj or Shardul Thakur. It had to be Jadeja early. You could have started with two fast bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami but Jadeja into the attack.”
Shastri signed off by saying, “Yes, and just that last delivery is an example of that (Jadeja being flat). When he is darting the all, he is never going to hit those patches, which are a little fuller. It will only happen if the ball goes above the eye line and dips.”
India lost the 5th Test in Birmingham despite taking a 132-run lead as England chased down 378 with 7 wickets to spare and went on to level the series 2-2.
(With Sky Sports Inputs)
