On Monday, Team India managed to level the ongoing five-match Test series against England with a resounding 106-run victory in the second Test. However, former Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan believes that despite the triumph, there is room for improvement in the team’s batting performance.
The Indian batting order showcased moments of brilliance, posting a formidable total of 396 runs in the first innings, largely fueled by Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s maiden double century. The second innings saw an additional 255 runs, with Shubman Gill‘s century standing out as a key contribution for the home team.
While praising skipper Rohit Sharma for extracting the best from the young talents and putting India in a commanding position, Khan expressed his concerns about the batting department.
“In a series, when you’re trailing, you require aggression, determination, and confidence to level the score by the end of the game. I believe Rohit successfully motivated the players to deliver outstanding individual performances,” Khan said.
However, the former pacer emphasized the need for addressing batting issues going forward in the series.
“When examining the team, there are some concerns, particularly regarding batting. This aspect will likely be a topic of discussion, given that we have witnessed India perform better under similar conditions and on this type of surface,” he added.
In the first innings, England succumbed to Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance, getting bundled out for 253 runs. Bumrah’s exceptional performance, taking six wickets, proved to be a significant factor in India’s success. Despite England’s second-innings effort, where Zak Crawley top-scored with 73 runs, Khan highlighted the collective effort from other English players that brought them close to the 300-run mark.
“In England’s second innings, only one player scored a half-century, yet they nearly reached the 300-run mark. This illustrates the impact of collective effort. While Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill delivered outstanding innings, there is still significant work to be done with the bat,” he said.
The third Test of the 5-match Test series will take place in Rajkot. Known as a batting paradise, Indian batters like Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer have a crucial opportunity to redeem themselves and regain form. Zak’s comments highlight the same and the home team would need to work on their batting to excel in the remainder of the series.
Khan then commended Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance on a challenging surface. “In terms of bowling, Jasprit Bumrah displayed remarkable skills. On this particular surface, there were instances where the spinners felt pressured, requiring support from the batsmen. Managing all these aspects is where the captain plays a crucial role, and Rohit has excelled in handling such factors and situations,” Zak concluded.