Sachin Tendulkar, the former legendary batsman says the current England team is in complete awe of India’s world-class seam attack with only its skipper Joe Root looking capable of getting a big hundred.
In an exclusive interview, the iconic batsman spoke on a host of issues including India’s victory, the standard of the England Test team, skipper Virat Kohli’s technical adjustments, Rohit Sharma’s dominance against the new ball, and Jasprit Bumrah’s return to wickets with 12 scalps in the last two games.
Sachin Tendulkar: England Batsmen Aren’t Capable Of Scoring Tons Consistently Apart From Joe Root
Joe Root has amassed 1277 runs playing 10 Tests in 2021, averaging 57.21, and has hit 5 tons. He scored 228 and 186 against Sri Lanka and hit 218 in the 1st Test against and in India while scoring 109 and an unbeaten 180 in the first two successive Tests when India toured England.
“When I saw Joe Root putting India in after winning the toss, I was really surprised and I felt that in itself was an indication that England was worried about our fast bowling attack. Bowling first wasn’t an ideal decision by the England captain and credit to our openers, they were brilliant. This England team has had a history of collapses.In this team, I don’t see anyone other than Joe Root(capable of scoring 100s). Teams of the past had a number of such players,” Sachin Tendulkar said about England batsmen.
“Other than Root, I can’t find anyone(to score consistent tons) and that’s the state of their batting today. Maybe the reason for Root to opt for fielding first,” Sachin Tendulkar said about England’s batting collapse.
“He(Rohit Sharma) has been a leader there and KL has supported him brilliantly. As far as playing pull shot is concerned, he has cleared the fence with that shot and I am looking at what he has been able to achieve for the team in both Tests. Rohit has left the ball and defended the ball brilliantly or equally well. He was always a fantastic player but seeing his last few innings in England, I can say he has definitely gone a notch higher,” Sachin Tendulkar said about Rohit Sharma.
“They played a very crucial role considering that we were effectively 28 for 3 when they came together. Two more quick wickets and we would have been 60 for 5 and dynamics would have been completely different. They stabilised the innings,”Sachin Tendulkar said about Ajinkya Rahane And Cheteshwar Pujara’s partnership.
Ajinkya Rahane paired with Cheteshwar Pujara (45) to put up a solid 100-run stand for the 4th wicket to put India in a comfortable position. An afternoon of dead-batted defiance from Cheteshwar Pujara, 45 from 206 balls, and Ajinkya Rahane, 61 from 146, was followed by a three-wicket intervention that keeps England in the hunt to reward Joe Root’s masterful 180 on the third day with a 1-0 series lead on the final 5th day.
Resuming from 181-6, leading by only 154 runs, India was soon reduced to 209-8, losing both their overnight batsmen in the form of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma before the pair of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah’s partnership changed the course of the match, tilting it in favour of India.
Sachin Tendulkar: England’s Body Language Wasn’t Great On The 5th Day
Virat Kohli is having an off-form with the bat recently in Tests but his captaincy tactics have been spot on and his aggressive instinct has given India many Test wins of late. For Joe Root, it’s just the opposite as he is in the form of his life but his team has lost to New Zealand and India recently.
“Virat hasn’t had a great start. It is the mind that leads to technical errors and if the start isn’t good you start thinking about a lot of things. Because anxiety levels are high you tend to over compensate for your movements.Form is also your state of mind along with the body working in harmony,” Sachin Tendulkar said about Virat Kohli.
“If you can dismiss the top-order by bowling in good areas, why wouldn’t you try that with the tail-enders. I thought they were impatient and felt they wanted to scare them by bowling short but it actually was one of the reasons that triggered their motivation to stay at the crease and add those invaluable 100-odd runs. England’s body language wasn’t great,”Sachin Tendulkar said about England’s performance on the 5th Day.
“Today this bowling attack is the best in the world. It’s a reflection of talent, discipline and ability to work hard on fitness and wanting to learn more. I felt before the WTC final, Bumrah didn’t have enough long spells under his belt. He is the kind of bowler who is like the more he bowls, the better he gets,” Sachin Tendulkar said about Jasprit Bumrah and India’s pace attack.
“Siraj is a quick learner and adapts well to situations. He has come across as a fast learner. He has spring in his strides and gives his 100 per cent every time,” Sachin Tendulkar said about Mohammed Siraj.