Like always, there are questions on the playing XI India will pick for the fourth Test in Manchester. However, a former Indian cricketer observed that every time India loses, they tend to panic and make changes. “One thing I’ve noticed – when India loses, they panic. When they win, they stick with the same XI. After losing the first Test, they made 2-3 changes. But after winning in Birmingham, only Bumrah came in – no other changes. That’s been the pattern,” Mohammad Kaif noted.
However, unlike the first Test, where India lost the game convincingly, in the third Test it was a close battle. “Even after losing the third Test, I believe they should back the same team going into Manchester. Karun Nair has been getting starts in – 30s and 40s, but not converting. Still, he deserves another opportunity. This is a test for both Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir. After a close loss, will they panic and make changes? Or will they trust the players?” Kaif said, speaking on the IANS.
Kaif was also quite appreciative of India’s performance despite trailing in the series 2-1. “India dominated for 12–13 out of the last 15 days. They played solid cricket, both with the bat and the ball. When this team landed in England, most people predicted a 0-4 or 1-4 defeat, but they’ve surprised everyone,” Kaif would observe.
Going into the series, India lacked the experienced players who have carried the Test side for more than a decade, pointing out that Kaif said: “Without Kohli, Rohit, Shami, and Ashwin, this young team stood up and delivered. They lost two close matches – Headingley was in India’s grasp, and so was the final Test while chasing 193. Shubman Gill has led from the front – as captain and as a batsman. There were doubts about his ability to perform in English conditions, but he answered with the bat. With a bit of luck, India could’ve won all three Tests,” Kaif noted.
