Ex-Coach's Big Call On India's 11: 'Anshul Kamboj Won't Get Another...'
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar envisages India dropping pacer Anshul Kamboj for the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, which begins on July 31 at The Oval. He pointed to incumbent head coach Gautam Gambhir's declaration that all pacers were 'fit', saying that Kamboj would find it difficult to be ahead of the frontline options in such a scenario.
Kamboj made his Test debut in the last Test in Manchester but could pick just one wicket. There were concerns about his pace and match-fitness, but it looked clear that he had been slightly rushed, having been called up from India as an emergency support after both Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh went down injured. The latter two have recovered now and are likely to compete for the available spots.
'From tomorrow evening onwards, they'll begin planning for the next match," JioHotstar expert Bangar said on 'Match Centre Live'. 'One thing is certain — the designated wicketkeeper will return. I don't think Anshul Kamboj will get another opportunity this time, especially with all the frontline fast bowlers reportedly fit. Arshdeep Singh is also available as an option. So, which bowling combination they choose becomes a tricky decision."
The designated wicketkeeper in this case would be Dhruv Jurel, who'll replace the injured Rishabh Pant, who suffered a foot fracture at Old Trafford. Bangar said the other toss-up would be deciding whether to go with an aggressive spin option in Kuldeep Yadav or play safe with all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
'Now that Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja have more or less secured their places, Akash Deep could come back into the equation. You also need to slot in the wicketkeeper, which locks in seven positions already. The big call is — who plays at No. 8? Do they go with Kuldeep Yadav or bring back Shardul Thakur? That's the decision Gautam and Shubman will have to make."
India will also have to check if Mohammed Siraj can play a fifth Test on the trot and if Jasprit Bumrah wouldn't mind breaking the pre-series instructions that he should play only three matches to manage workload.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
England have massive advantage because of an unsaid rule, India pacers might be helpless on Day 5 after all
When Harry Brook and Joe Root were going hell for leather and formed a 195-run stand for the fourth wicket in the final innings of the Oval Test, the fate for India looked decided. The body language was down and out, and it felt like India would go on to lose the series 1-3 on Day 4 itself. However, a late surge by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna helped India claw their way back into the contest, and as a result, a thrilling day 5 is on the cards, with all four results possible. Here's how the heavy roller might just aid England on the final day (PTI) On the final day, England need 35 more runs with Jamie Overton and Jamie Smith at the crease. India require four wickets after it was declared that Chris Woakes would come out to bat if required, despite the all-rounder having a shoulder injury. In the final session on Day 4, Shubman Gill's India removed Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, as both batters lost their wickets to Prasidh Krishna. The pacer, along with Siraj, had their tails up, as runs were hard to come by for the hosts. However, the umpires decided to take the players off the field because of bad light. Soon after, rain started pelting down. After a few minutes, the downpour stopped. However, the officials deemed the playing surface not ready for further play, and stumps were called. The call not to continue play on the fourth day continues to generate polarising reactions, but one cannot deny the excitement of the final day of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj's anger 'fake': Joe Root sees right through India pacer ahead of gripping Day 5 at the Oval India win, England win, draw, or tie—these four results are all possible, and no one knows what will really happen once play resumes at the Oval on Day 5. However, ahead of the start of play, England hold a major advantage and this might just change the result of the highly-contested Test. Role of the heavy roller The hosts might opt to use the heavy roller before the start of play on Day 5. According to the rules, the pitch can be rolled at the batting side's request for a maximum of seven minutes before the start of play on each subsequent day of a Test match. The rolling can only begin once there is half an hour left before the start of play. However, the captain of the batting side can delay the start of such rolling until not less than 10 minutes before the start of play on each day. If England do opt for the heavy roller, then it will remove all the unevenness from the pitch, basically making the Oval pitch flat for batting. This might last for a brief period, but the time frame might just be enough for England to get the remaining 35 runs required for victory. "In terms of the roller, we'll see. I haven't got a crystal ball, unfortunately, but it has made an impact so far throughout this game. Whether that changes on day five, we'll see, but hopefully it works well in our favour in flattening things out," Root told reporters after stumps on Day 4.
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
England make U-turn on Chris Woakes injury, say pacer ‘ready if needed' for IND vs ENG 5th Test finish
In yet another twist in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, England have confirmed that pacer Chris Woakes will be available to bat if required during the final day of play at Kensington Oval on Monday. Notably, the fifth Test match is on the line, with India needing four wickets to draw the series 2–2, while a win on Monday would help the hosts seal the series 3–1. English batter Joe Root, while confirming the development during the post-day press conference, said, 'You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room. So he's all-in like the rest of us. It's been that kind of series where guys have had to put bodies on the line,' Root then went on to reference the bravado shown by Rishabh Pant during the Manchester Test to state that Woakes would undergo a huge amount of pain for his team as well. 'Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain having done what he's done. It just shows, as we've seen from other guys in this series, Rishabh Pant batting with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows here and there, but it means a huge amount to him,' Root added. 'Hopefully it doesn't get to that, but he had some throwdowns here at one point, and he's ready if needed,' he further stated. Notably, Woakes had injured his shoulder while fielding on the boundary line during the first day of the Test match. The England and Wales Cricket Board had promptly gone on to announce that the pacer had dislocated his shoulder and would play no further part in the match. A tired set of Indian pacers will look to seal the match for their team as they try their luck against the pair of Jamie Smith and James Overton on the fifth day. Mohammed Siraj has taken two wickets in the match and has been the pick of the Indian bowlers, having bowled 26 overs and troubled the batters from the first match onwards. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna has also looked sharp for India, taking three crucial wickets of Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell. Akash Deep, on the other hand, has blown hot and cold, looking very impressive with the new ball but struggling to get into his rhythm with an older ball.
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Is Jasprit Bumrah battling injury again? Report reveals stunning details of India pacer after Test series in England
The release of Jasprit Bumrah on the opening day of the fifth Test against England did raise quite a few eyebrows. The premier India pacer played three Tests against as planned due to his workload management scalping 14 wickets in six innings with two five-wicket hauls - one each in Leeds and Lord's. Unfortunately, India lost in both the games. With the series on the line at The Oval, everybody through Bumrah would push a little more to play in the fifth Test, but an BCCI update put end to all discussions. Mr Jasprit Bumrah has been released from India's squad for the fifth Test of the series against England. The fifth and final Test of the series is underway at Kennington Oval, London,' the BCCI said in a release. A report in Mumbai Mirror on Monday revealed Bumrah leaving the Indian camp in England during the fifth Test was because of an injury and nor workload. 'Unfortunately, Bumrah is suffering from a knee injury. The good thing is that it's not a major one and won't require surgery. The BCCI medical team is currently awaiting his scan reports,' a BCCI official was quoted as saying to the newspaper. Although details of Bumrah's injury are yet to be known, the 31-year-old might have injured his knee during the fourth Test in Manchester. Recently a viral video that surfaced online, caught Bumrah limping while climbing the stairs at Old Trafford. The report stated that Bumrah will head to BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) straight from England and is expected to begin his rehabilitation. With no international commitments in August, the Indian teams will next be seen in the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9, followed by a Test series against West Indies at home. However, recent reports have stated that Bumrah might be rested for the Asia Cup 2025 and keep him fresh for the Test series against the Caribbean.
