ENG Vs IND, 2018: Wasim Jaffer Believes Virat Kohli Will Deliver Big in England
Updated - 10 Jan 2019, 12:33 AM
Forgotten batsman Wasim Jaffer, probably, the most underrated cricketer in India, who has always been fantastic in the domestic circuit but somehow, never attracted the selectors after his ouster from the Team India in 2008. Meanwhile, he makes his voice on India’s prestigious tour to England under the captaincy of batting mainstay Virat Kohli
To be precise, Jaffer is a very big name in the domestic circuit who achieved few phenomenal things during his career.
India are the favourites to win: Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer, in his column to The Times of India, stated, that India would step in the field as the favourites to win the game.
Also, he wants India to play the smart cricket with the kind of resources they have got in the team.
Jaffer went on to suggest that India would cash the nervous England players. He feels that the England team is under pressure, especially, after their loss to Pakistan in the initial phase of their series.
”I would say that India are the favourites going into this series, but they’ll have to play smart cricket. They have all the ammunition to beat England. The hosts didn’t do well at the start of the season against Pakistan and are under pressure. In bowling, they depend too much on James Anderson and Stuart Broad. If both struggle, they don’t have another ‘go to’ bowler. Unlike in the past, where they had a Monty Panesar or a Graeme Swann, they don’t have a quality spinner to trouble the Indians,” Jaffer wrote.
Earlier, when Wasim Jaffer toured the United Kingdom, India won the series 1-0 despite having those quality players in their side. He was the consistent performer during the series.
Dramatically, none of the Indian top-order batsmen scored a century in that series but it is best remembered for Anil Kumble’s maiden century.
Virat Kohli far too good a player to fail again: Jaffer
The Indian skipper, Kohli had a disaster tour when India travelled the UK in 2014. However, Jaffer feels it won’t make any difference as Kohli is too good a player to fail again.
So much so, Jaffer was sure about Kohli’s success in his piece to TOI. He added that India has pace quadrant who can rattle England lineup.
“Though they’ll miss Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in the initial games. India have the pace attack to take 20 wickets. They have quality batsmen too. I am sure Virat Kohli will succeed in England this time. He’s far too good a player to fail here again. Since that tour in 2014, he’s played all over the world and done brilliantly. The only thing he needs to be careful about is that he needs to play the ball late, and close to his body,” he added.
However, it seems like Wasim Jaffer is convinced on India and Virat Kohli to do well in the impending Test series against England.
The first Test set to be started at Nottingham on August 1st. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was dismissed in the practice game exactly the way Wasim suggested.
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India National Cricket Team Wasim Jaffer