Geoffrey Boycott, the previous England opener, opines that India’s captain Rohit Sharma is “beyond his prime,” and the staff sorely missed the unparalleled Virat Kohli within the collection opener in opposition to England in Hyderabad. Despite a powerful place after the primary innings, India confronted a 28-run defeat within the first Test, trailing 0-1 within the five-match collection.
With Kohli absent, the duty to anchor the batting division fell on Rohit, who, sadly, may solely muster 24 and 39 within the two innings. The Indian batting lineup crumbled considerably whereas chasing 231 on a fourth-day pitch. Boycott sees this as a golden alternative for England to safe a victory in India’s house territory after 12 years.
“This India team are ripe for the taking and England have a golden chance to be the first side to topple them on their own patch for 12 years,” Boycott wrote in his column for ‘The Daily Telegraph’. (India Squad For Remaining 3 Tests Vs England: When Will Virat Kohli Return? No Clarity On Ex-Captain’s Availability, Says BCCI Official)
“India badly miss Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja has a hamstring injury and will not play the second Test. Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has scored only two Test hundreds at home in four years. They are also weak in the field. They dropped Ollie Pope on 110 and that cost them 86 runs. It lost them the match.”
Rohit Sharma has scored most runs in Test cricket in Vishakapatnam cricket stadium.
 Captain will probably be seeking to make an incredible return.  pic.twitter.com/0gb8KtdlCG
 Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2024
The Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar Patel seemed a pale shadow of themselves on a spin-friendly however not precisely dust-bowl of a Hyderabad wicket. The English batters got here out with an ideal tactical ploy, utilizing sweeps and reverse sweeps to nice impact to counter the risk.”England bamboozled India with their sweeps and reverse sweeps and to lose after taking a 190-run lead will be mind-blowing for India. It has never happened to them before on their own pitches where they thought they were invincible,” Boycott wrote.
India had been dealt a giant blow after the Hyderabad defeat as Jadeja and KL Rahul have been dominated out of the second Test beginning in Visakhapatnam on February 2, as a consequence of accidents. While Jadeja sustained a hamstring harm throughout play on Day 4 of the primary Test, Rahul complained of ache in his proper quadriceps. Because of the stability that he brings into the enjoying, Jadeja’s absence will probably be huge feels the legendary opener.
“Jadeja is a huge blow. He is a great all-rounder, top bowler, brilliant fielder and was their best batsman in the first Test. Kohli is their talisman. He is a magnificent batsman who averages 60 on Indian pitches but he also gives them great energy in the field. He is a big loss and England must make the most of it before he comes back for the third Test,” Boycott wrote.
He believes that England have India on the mat and will properly be hosts’ first collection defeat in a dozen of years. (‘I Don’t Know What They…’, England Pacer Mark Wood Makes A Big Statement Ahead Of IND vs ENG 2nd Test)
“Once in a while a team are in the right place at the right time to clinch a big series win and England could be in that position right now in India. India are due a (series) defeat at home, the signs are good as they have lost Kohli, Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant and are playing opponents full of confidence after a remarkable win. England must take this rare opportunity,” he additional wrote.
