As England prepares to face Bharat in
the first Test of a five-match series starting Thursday, the spotlight shifts
to the unique challenge of Bazball against spin on what is expected to be a
spinning surface. The series narrative, as stated by Bharat skipper Rohit
Sharma, revolves around England’s ability to handle spin.
The last time England clinched a series
win on Indian soil was in 2012, owing to Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen’s
batting brilliance and the bowling heroics of Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann, and
James Anderson. Since then, Australia came close to drawing a series in
2016/17, emphasizing the formidable challenge Bharat’s spinners pose to Bazball.
In the absence of key players like Virat
Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane, the first Test in Hyderabad marks
a historic moment for Indian Test cricket. Shubman Gill, taking the No. 3 spot
from Pujara, will aim to solidify his position and contribute significantly to Bharat’s
batting lineup.
With Kohli absent, the responsibility
falls on Gill to anchor the innings. In the previous England tour to Bharat,
the 24-year-old struggled against pacers, averaging just 19.83. Meanwhile, Bharat’s
wicketkeeper scenario remains uncertain, with KL Rahul ruled out of the role.
The decision between KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel as the wicketkeeper remains
undisclosed.
The selection of the third spinner is
another point of discussion for Bharat, with Axar Patel likely to get the nod
over Kuldeep Yadav due to his batting prowess. While Bharat’s spinners pose a
significant threat to England, Jack Leach is expected to lead England’s attack,
building on his success from the 2020-21 Bharat tour where he took 18 wickets.
As the series unfolds, milestones are on
the horizon, with Ravichandran Ashwin eyeing the 500-wicket mark and Ravindra
Jadeja aiming for 300 wickets. The clash promises a riveting battle between
England’s Bazball and Bharat’s formidable spin arsenal.
