Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has issued a warning to Team India going into the second Test at Lord’s. He said India shouldn’t take England lightly as they are without Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad in the ongoing five-match Test series.
England received a massive jolt as Ben Stokes took an indefinite break from all cricket and withdrawn from the India series just before the series opener in Nottingham. Jofra Archer was also ruled out of cricket for the remainder of 2021 with an injury.
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Stuart Broad is the latest casualty for the England camp. He had an off-game at Trent Bridge where he managed just one wicket in the Test. However, he injured his calf in the buildup of the Lord’s Test which ruled him out of the India series.
But Chopra believes India shouldn’t take England for granted as it will be a close series than it looks.
“First Jofra. Then Stokes pulled out. Now, Broad is injured. And Woakes hasn’t recovered yet. While everything is pointing towards things getting easier for India to clinch the series but I have a strong feeling that it’ll be a much closer series than most people think,” Chopra said on Twitter.
First Jofra. Then Stokes pulled out. Now, Broad is injured. And Woakes hasn’t recovered yet. While everything is pointing towards things getting easier for India to clinch the series but I have a strong feeling that it’ll be a much closer series than most people think. #EngvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 11, 2021
India started the series with a fine performance in Nottingham, where they pushed England on the met on the first day by dismissing them for 183 in the first innings. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s fifties propelled India to a 95-run lead at the halfway mark of the game.
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However, England skipper Joe Root fought hard to keep his team afloat. His century in the second innings provided England with a score to fight with. India were chasing 209 in the fourth innings and wiped 52 runs by the stumps of day four with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were in the middle. The rain washed out the final day’s play and the first Test ended in a draw.
