Former Indian pace bowler Ajit Agarkar has said that he doesn’t feel Team India should tinker with their winning combination for the third Test at Headingley in Leeds. He also feels that the visitors must stick to their previous playing XI as well.
Notably, Shardul Thakur has missed the second Test due to his hamstring strain, but he is fit and available for selection for the third Test as well. However, Ajit Agarkar has said that he would prefer the same team with their four pace bowlers that played at Lord’s. He also stated that only if conditions become dry, then Ravichandran Ashwin can play as well.
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“I can’t imagine unless the conditions drastically change, and it is dry if they are expecting hot weather. Ashwin might be the only change, but I cant imagine why you would change a team after having won a Test match unless you have real problems. As good as Shardul bowled in the first test, he might have to miss out since Ishant bowled well in the second Test,” Agarkar said during a media integration arranged by Sony.
“I remember playing that 2002 Test. We batted first playing on a green surface. We played a veey different attack with two seamers and two spinners. This attack is different, and conditions in Headingley have historically been good for fast bowling..so I think India’s seam bowlers will enjoy bowling here,” Ajit Agarkar concluded.
The Headingley Test will begin from August 25th, where India will try to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. On the other hand, former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg praised Virat Kohli for showing honesty and not supporting his poor form. However, he has had to juggle between his poor batting show and responsibilities as the captain as well. Kohli has been going through a rough patch with the bat so far. Across two Tests, he has failed to score a single fifty and has been dismissed by four different bowlers also.
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While speaking on his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg said: “Leaders have to show their vulnerability as well, and Virat Kohli has been doing that with his little lack of form or the tough run he’s had as of late. He’s not shying back from it. He’s getting out there and he realizes that he is in it and he’s working on it. And what that does, it creates that environment where the youngsters see it from their leaders and they feel comfortable to go in there and follow their leader.”
