Owais Shah said that the second seamer’s place is one of Team India’s concerns heading into the third Test against England. However, India finished a convincing 106-run win in the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday (February 5) to level the five-match Test series. However, their two specialist pacers had contrasting returns. While Jasprit Bumrah claimed a nine-wicket match haul, Mukesh Kumar managed just one wicket across England’s two innings and proved expensive as well.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Owais Shah said: “The Indian middle order hasn’t fired properly. A lot of batters got starts but they weren’t able to take advantage of the opportunity. Everyone knows Virat Kohli has to return to the team. KL Rahul, if he is fit, also deserves to be back. The head selector, captain and coach will have to address who misses out and who comes in the team. The second seamer’s position is also looking slightly dicey. It remains to be seen whether they will keep Mukesh or not. Eight or nine days are there before the next Test but that also needs to be addressed.”
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However, a few reports suggest Bumrah could be rested for the third Test in Rajkot. While Mohammed Siraj is expected to return to the playing XI, the Gujarat seamer’s potential absence could weaken the Indian bowling attack as well, especially considering Mohammed Shami’s likely unavailability. Owais Shah further opined on whether Rohit Sharma would be under pressure heading into the third Test considering his poor form in the first two games.
“It probably seems like that but he shouldn’t be under pressure. He has played a lot of cricket. He knows that runs are and aren’t scored at times in a career. Everyone knows Rohit Sharma is a class player. He has good numbers in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. So he just has to play his own game and he will play like that only. I feel here Jimmy Anderson bowled an excellent ball and it was very difficult to play that. That happens, but I feel the day he gets set, he will probably play a long knock,” Owais Shah concluded.
