Gautam Gambhir Don’t See Umesh Yadav In India’s Playing XI For 3rd Test
Feb 23, 2021 at 2:27 PM
Gautam Gambhir has opined that in form pacer Mohammed Siraj should be preferred over Umesh Yadav for the pink-ball Test against England. Umesh Yadav has been added to the Indian squad after recovering from the calf injury he sustained in the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
Shardul Thakur has been released from the Indian contingent which means he would be playing in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Gautam Gambhir Don’t See Umesh Yadav In The Playing XI As Mohammed Siraj Looks Impressive
During the latest edition of the Star Sports show Cricket Connected, Gautam Gambhir was asked for his view if he sees Umesh Yadav fitting into the scheme of things for the third Test. The former Indian opener responded that he would opt for Mohammed Siraj instead, with certainties Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah as the other two members of the three-pronged pace attack.
“I don’t see Umesh Yadav in the playing XI. If India has to go with three seamers, it has to be Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
“Siraj looks very impressive and the way he bowled in Australia, even the way he bowled in the second Test match, there was nothing for the fast bowlers but the way he was getting the ball to move and the kind of speeds he was clocking, he was very impressive. So, these three seamers according to me will play the pink-ball Test match,” said Gautam Gambhir.
“The pink-ball Test match will be a completely different challenge because it is a new stadium, new wicket. India hasn’t played too much of pink-ball Test matches, neither has England, but if the ball starts moving especially under lights, England has the attack to rattle India. So India needs to play really well,” said Gautam Gambhir.
India and England have the chance besides Australia to reach the final to be held at Lord’s later this year. Meanwhile, Australian chances hinge on the result of the ongoing series between India and England.
Australia will go through if the series is drawn or England wins by 2-1 whereas India will go through if they win 2-1 or 3-1 and England will reach the finals if they are victorious by a 3-1 margin.
The four-match series between India and England currently stands level at 1-1 after England won the 1st Test by 227 runs before losing the next by 317 runs.
Gautam Gambhir: England Needs To Play Really Well Since India Can Trouble England With Fast Bowling
The cricketer-turned-commentator signed off by highlighting that the visitors won’t have it easy either with the Virat Kohli-led side also possessing a formidable bowling lineup.
“England needs to play really well because India has got the fast bowling to actually trouble England.
“With the kind of batting they [England] have, Ishant Sharma on the verge of playing 100 Test matches, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj looks in very good rhythm plus Ashwin back in form with the bat, Axar. So, India has got the bowling attack to rattle them,” signed off Gautam Gambhir.
India has played just two pink-ball Tests to date, annihilating Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens at Kolkata before suffering an embarrassing defeat against the Australians in Adelaide. England, on the other hand, has won just won one of the three day-night Tests they have played. The match holds greater significance with both teams fighting it out to qualify for the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.