India Definitely Had The Upper Hand Going Into The Final Day – Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik felt India were in a stronger position to win the Trent Bridge Test than the hosts moving into the final day, which was then washed out completely, ending the first of the five-match series in a stalemate.

Virat Kohli’s side required 157 more runs on Day 5, while England needed to pick 9 wickets – India had lost KL Rahul towards the end of Day 4. However, the intriguing fifth day saw persistent rain, and not a single ball was bowled.

Dinesh Karthik, who is continuing his gig with Sky Sports as a commentator, opined that the visitors would take a lot more positives from the Nottingham Test than England would.

“I think India definitely had the upper hand going into the final day. India will take a lot more from this game than England would – overall they played a very good brand of cricket,” Dinesh Karthik told Sky Sports.

Bumrah set the tone in the first over: Dinesh Karthik

The 36-year-old Kolkata Knight Riders player lauded Jasprit Bumrah for setting up India’s dominant stand from the first over the game itself. The speedster brilliantly set up opener Rory Burns: with four consecutive outswingers, Bumrah drew Burns across, and then slid one inswinger which had the batsman miss the ball and hit him plumb in front of the stumps.

After a disappointing WTC final in June against New Zealand, Bumrah stormed back into form with 9 wickets in the game – 4 in the first innings and 5 in the second – halting England to not put a bigger target for India.

Dinesh Karthik hailed India’s entire 4-man pace attack; he also liked the intent with which the Indian batters batted in their second innings, knocking 52 runs quickly off the chase.

“Bumrah set the tone in the first over, setting up Rory Burns the way he did, the bowling unit was good and I thought the batters came in with a lot of intent,” the Tamil Nadu cricketer added.

The second Test at Lord’s kicks off on Thursday (August 12).

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