A rank turner is being anticipated at Motera but the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli expects pacers to have as big a role as spinners in the day-night third Test against England, a side riddled with “many weaknesses” according to him. Both teams have won a game each in the four-match series and ahead of the pink-ball Test scheduled to be commencing on Wednesday, the talk has been incessantly focussed on the nature of the pitch conditions at the refurbished stadium.
Talking about the same, Virat Kohli said, “I don’t think that is an accurate assessment (that bowl will not swing). The pink ball does tend to swing a lot more than the red ball. We experienced that when we played for the first time in 2019 (against Bangladesh)…not really bothered about what the strengths and weaknesses of the English team are. It’s just about playing well as a team.”
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He further added, “And yeah, there are many, many weaknesses in the opposition side as well, if you are keen to exploit them. If it’s a seamer-friendly track for them it’s for us as well. And we probably have, you know, among other teams, the best bowling attack in the world so we’re not really bothered by what the ball might bring differently to the table. We’re ready for anything that comes our way.”
Both teams go into the game with a lot of unknowns. The pink ball usually supports the pacers but it remains to be seen how much it will help the spinners, which is considered India’s strength at home. Senior India batsman Rohit Sharma has already said that it will be another turning pitch. Kohli said facing the pink ball is more challenging than the red ball irrespective of the nature of the surface.
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Describing the same, Virat Kohli said, “It is much more challenging to play with pink ball regardless of the pitch you play on. Especially in the evening, if as a batting team, you are starting your innings under lights then that one and a half hour is very challenging. Yes spin will come into play for sure but I don’t think the new ball and fast bowlers can be ignored.”
