By News18
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri suggested that the Shubman Gill-led team should aim to bowl at England in the final session of day four in the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test after building a lead of up to 500 runs.
India鈥檚 lead increased to 357 runs after reaching 177/3 in 38 overs of their second innings by lunch on day four, with KL Rahul scoring 55 and Rishabh Pant making a quickfire 41 not out. Pant is also part of an unbeaten 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Shubman Gill, who remains not out on 24.
鈥淚f Pant and Gill stay for an hour and India bat for another two hours, they may even entertain thoughts of 500, instead of 450. It is very important India have a crack at England tonight with the ball and realise that pressure period, of one hour before stumps, when they might be able to pick up two or three wickets. India have to call the shots,鈥 Shastri was quoted as saying on Sky Sports鈥 broadcast.
What Was Sangakkara鈥檚 Opinion?
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara commented that India should be bold in deciding whether to take the risk of pursuing a win. 鈥淓ngland will go for a chase of 450, 500, so India could be fearful of that. But that also gives you more opportunities to take wickets. Ultimately, the captain and coach have to be aligned that it is okay to risk losing 鈥 however remote that is 鈥 to be able to win. I would like to see them dangle England a little carrot.鈥
Asked about any assistance in the flat Edgbaston pitch for India鈥檚 bowlers, Sangakkara said, 鈥淭here was up-and-down variable bounce when Carse was bowling. I鈥檓 not sure whether the spinners will get big bite and turn so they will have to decide whether to attack or to hold. Field settings are going to be important and new-ball wickets as well. I would like to see Prasidh Krishna raise himself and get some better body language when he is bowling.鈥
Sangakkara also praised Pant, whose innings have been both rollicking and chaotic. 鈥淚 love watching Pant bat and just love watching him in general. He is full of energy and enthusiasm and lifts the side. You expect the unexpected but you mustn鈥檛 forget that he is a smart batter. He gets into great positions and knows how to reverse pressure. When you talk about entertaining batting, he is the poster boy.鈥
(With inputs from IANS)