England middle-order batter Dawid Malan added that the absence of the swashbuckling batter Rohit Sharma could prove to be a huge loss for India. He is currently isolated in Leicestershire where the warm-up games took place after he was getting affected by the COVID-19.

While speaking to a select group of reporters before the rescheduled fifth Test, Dawid Malan said: “Whenever you lose your leader, who’s also one of your best batters, it’s incredibly tough for your team. It will be a big loss if he doesn’t play, but only time will tell how big a loss that could be.”

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He also shared: “Still, there are some very experienced cricketers in the Indian team and very good batters that are on the sidelines. And they could all fill in for Rohit.”

Team India have added Mayank Agarwal as cover for Sharma. However, with KL Rahul’s unavailability due to injury, the visitors are stretched thin in terms of options at the top of the order as well.

Dawid Malan again said: “Birmingham, historically, has been a really good wicket. The ball turns as the game goes on. But England will still try to play in exactly the same way, though India obviously have some fantastic bowlers. I think the whole of English cricket would want Stokes and Co. to keep playing that way. So hopefully, they can still continue to impress as they have been and push those limits.”

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Team India will take on England in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting tomorrow (July 1). The visitors have a 2-1 lead in the series as well.