As India battles England at Headingley, voices from the cricketing fraternity are weighing in on the team's performance and strategy. With England mounting a strong chase on the final day, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the Indian bowlers to adopt a more aggressive approach, while former head coach Ravi Shastri feels the team is missing the presence and intensity of Virat Kohli.
Pathan's call for "aggressive bowling" comes as England's openers have put India under pressure. Pathan believes that the bowlers need to be proactive and assertive in their approach to disrupt the English batsmen and create opportunities for wickets. He suggests that the Indian bowlers need to be more relentless in their pursuit of wickets. He emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure and not allowing the batsmen to settle. This could involve using more short balls, varying their pace, and attacking the stumps more frequently.
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri has highlighted the absence of Virat Kohli's aggressive mindset on the field. Shastri, who is part of the commentary team, observed that the current team lacks someone who can get "in the face" of the opposition. He believes that Kohli's presence would have made a significant difference, as he is known for his intensity and ability to put pressure on the opposition. Shastri said that the team needs someone who can play mind games in the field and lift the team's energy. He recalled how Kohli "would do that for three people," implying that his impact extended beyond his own performance. Several sources suggest that Kohli's mental fortitude and presence in tough moments were hallmarks of his legacy, something that Gill's current Test match persona is still missing.
Shastri's comments come at a time when Shubman Gill is leading the team in the absence of Virat Kohli. While Gill is a talented batsman, he is still relatively new to captaincy and is finding his feet in the role. Shastri feels that Gill and other young players in the team need to step up and fill the void left by Kohli's absence.
The Headingley Test is evenly poised, and India needs to come up with a plan to counter England's strong batting lineup. Whether the team heeds Pathan's call for aggressive bowling or finds a way to channel Kohli's intensity remains to be seen. However, it is clear that India needs to find a way to turn the tide and secure a victory in this crucial Test match. The performance of the bowlers and the leadership of Gill will be critical in determining the outcome of the match. Shastri suggested that Kohli could guide youngsters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.
