Not Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah! Suresh Raina picks the backbone of current India
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Former Indian middle-order batter Suresh Raina has identified current Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant as the ideal backbone of the Indian team in the longest format of the game.
India is currently playing the 5-match Test series against England and is trailing 1-2 under the leadership of new skipper Shubman Gill. Rishabh Pant, the comparatively experienced campaigner, has been named the vice-captain of the side.
Trailing from behind, India put forward a stunning show at Birmingham, as they leveled the series 1-1; however, with one of the most heartbreaking defeats in cricket history, England extended their lead over India at Lord's.
Before Shubman Gill's team arrives at Old Trafford for the Fourth Test, which is scheduled to begin on the 23rd of July, Raina on Sports Tak hails the vice-captain over the captain for India's spirits in Test cricket.
Suresh Raina discards Shubman Gill, picks Pant as the backbone of India
Raina had identified how Pant is a character on the field and often keeps the crowd engaged with his power-packed performance.
He is seen playing a crucial role when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar come in to bowl, as he is a great eye from behind the wickets.
"Rishabh is the backbone of the team. He keeps the energy going from behind the stumps, keeping the opposition batters confused, especially helping with Ravindra Jadeja & Washington Sundar's bowling lengths," said Raina.
With Rohit Sharma's backing and success in red-ball cricket as his USP, Pant has made a dynamic batting style of his own in the longest format of the game.
"The way Rohit Sharma backed him gave him the liberty to play his natural game—the success he has got in red ball cricket is his USP," added Raina to Sports Tak.
"The shots he plays at any given point in time, the one-handed six, off-stump game, his defence and shots in the v, testify that he has a lot of solidity in his gameplan and his mind his clear."
"He is playing really well now, even in difficult spells. We saw how he dealt with Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes, he manoeuvred them really well, knowing his time will come," Raina doesn't stop hailing the great left-hander.
Rishabh Pant is all set to keep wickets at Manchester
India has undergone several struggles in the ongoing series, but one that got them the most worried was an injury scare on their dynamic wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant.
The Shubman Gill-led side has seen limited glory in England but has won many hearts, and Pant has been one of the major architects of this success.
However, he faced a blow to his fingers while keeping in the first innings at Lord's, which kept him out of the field for the rest of the game, only coming into bat for a well-made 74 in the first innings and a disappointing 9 in the second.
Dhruv Jurel, who was brought in as a substitute for Pant as a keeper in Lord's, would not be allowed any further in a similar role from Manchester; hence, Pant needed to be fit to take up the gloves in Old Trafford.
Now, reportedly, there is some good news that Rishabh Pant is fit and will be playing as a keeper-batter on the side for the Fourth Test.
Jasprit Bumrah confirmed for Manchester outing
Another major concern for Shubman Gill's side has been the availability of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Jasprit Bumrah had claimed that he would feature in only 3 games of the 5-match series.
As of now, Shubman Gill's team has also adhered to the predetermined strategy, but citing the current scoreline and Jasprit Bumrah's key role in the side, they have decided to make Bumrah available for the upcoming game at Manchester.
Shubman Gill's side has a 9-day gap between the end of the Lord's Test and the start of the Manchester Test; hence, playing this match would not affect Bumrah's workload. Firstly, Mohammed Siraj and now some media reports have confirmed Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the fourth Test.
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Tagged:
India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team Shubman Gill Jasprit Bumrah Suresh Raina Rishabh Pant
