India vs England 2021: Left-Right Combination Would Be The Thinking For Sending Ravindra Jadeja At No.5 - VVS Laxman

Former India batsman VVS Laxman feels that India wanted to have a left-right combination in the middle and hence they sent Ravindra Jadeja at number 5 instead of Ajinkya Rahane at Oval on Thursday.

The left-hander, who has batted at number 7 so far in the series, came out at number 5 in a surprise move after India were teetering at 39/3. This move didn’t work as Jadeja departed after scoring 10 runs; Rahane then scored 14 and Rishabh Pant managed only 9 as every Indian batsman in the top 7 struggled for timing and control.

VVS Laxman reckons this move to promote Jadeja at five was not an impulsive one; he feels that India would have thought of it beforehand in order to unsettle the English bowlers as they had gained rhythm bowling to the right-handers.

“Left-right combination would be the thinking behind sending Jadeja at No.5. There was a lot of help for the four England pacers in the air and off the wicket. When there is a left-right combination, you can break the rhythm of the opposition. Jadeja is batting really well of late and has three triple hundreds in first-class cricket. This was not on the spot decision, this would have been planned in the team meeting,” VVS Laxman told ESPNcricinfo.

Thakur deserves praise for the way he batted: VVS Laxman

Shardul Thakur, returning to the side after missing out from the last two Tests, launched a counter-attack with a 31-ball fifty – the second-fastest Test fifty by an Indian ever – and helped the side to a respectable total. His innings was ladened with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

VVS Laxman hailed Thakur’s fearlessness and it reminded him of his another half-century earlier in the year at the Gabba.

“When you are a top-order batsman, there is a fear of failure. But when you bat at No.8 with the tailenders, you can play fearlessly. Thakur deserves praise for the way he batted. He scored an important half-century, not only for Shardul Thakur, but also for Team India because they could have got bowled out inside 150. It was an important innings just the way he played in Brisbane and brought the momentum in India’s favour. I will hope that he contributes with wickets too,” the 46-year-old concluded.

After being bowled out for 191, India have been given a lifeline by their bowlers as they have taken three England wickets, including that of the in-form Joe Root. The hosts trail by 138 runs at stumps on Day 1.

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