ENG vs IND: India might bring in an extra batsman for a bowler in next Test, reckons Sunil Gavaskar

With another batting collapse at Leeds in the third Test against England, there have been some questions raised at the Indian team. After winning the second Test at Lord’s, India came to Headingley in hope of taking a 2-0 lead but on the very first morning of the Test, they were bowled out for 78. 

After that, India was always chasing England, who piled 432 runs in their first innings. India made a fightback through the fifties of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while Cheteshwar Pujara made 91 runs. India went into day four with a score of 215 for 2, but bowled out for 278 runs, losing 8 wickets for just 63 runs. 

Amidst this, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has opined that India could change the make-up of their side. “I think they will think about whether they will go ahead with this line-up or make-up of the side. Whether they are okay going ahead with five bowlers or change it and bring in an extra batsman for a bowler,” he said after the match on Sony Six’s post-match show. 

Sunil Gavaskar wants an extra batsman, but Virat Kohli might not change the current template

For this ongoing series in England, India has stuck with the composition of five specialist batters, one wicketkeeper, one spin-bowling all-rounder, and four-seamers. But, with Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal, and Suryakumar Yadav waiting in the ranks, it won’t be the worst idea to bring in someone to boost the batting. However, that would mean that India will have to change their set template of having five bowlers, four of them being seamers. 

The next Test is at The Oval, where the spinners have been effective with the ball historically. In this series so far, Ravindra Jadeja has played three Tests and has been able to pick only two wickets, which came in Leeds. Captain Virat Kohli after the Leeds loss, though, was reluctant to admit that the team would consider bringing in a new batter at no. 6. 

As a matter of fact, Kohli defended the template which India is playing at this moment. According to him, the team management might make a call on the XI once they are able to see how the pitch and conditions are at the Oval. The fourth Test is set to begin on September 2.