England vs India 2018: India Missed the Contribution from All-Rounders - Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

Former India leg-spinner, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan says the India team management could have used Bhuvneshwar Kumar instead of Hardik Pandya as the all the all-rounder in the team.

Siva believes the inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar would have been a big boost for India. The visiting team dearly missed him as he was recuperating from an injury.

“Instead of Hardik Pandya, the team management could have used Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and he would have been a big boost for the team. Indian really missed him. The team also missed the services of Saha,” Siva was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Tuesday.

He also believes Bhuvneshwar could have taken a lot more wickets than Pandya in the series. Siva further opined India also missed the services of Wriddhiman Saha who is a first choice wicket-keeper in the Test team. He is by far the best keep in the country, and Siva feels had Saha been there then India wouldn’t have conceded the number of byes they did.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have made a difference – Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

 “Bhuvneshwar could have taken more wickets than Pandya and scored some runs. Similarly, Saha would not have given so many byes and would have certainly scored more in the series. Their presence wouldn’t have hurt India so much. In reality, India also didn’t have a full strength and let us not be so dismissive about them,” Siva said.

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan also felt the openers should have provided the start. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have failed to put up a substantial score. Due to below par performances in the first two Tests from Murali Vijay, he got dropped from the squad for the last couple of Tests.

Laxman felt had the openers provided at least 75-run partnership batting 30 overs, then Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane could have played much freely.

“The Indian openers should have batted at least for 20 to 30 overs with a minimum score of 75 runs. It would have taken a lot of pressure of the middle-order. The likes of Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane would have played much freely thereafter. But that didn’t happen. Kohli was left alone to do all the scoring in the middle-order,” he said.

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan is also of the opinion the team management should have persisted with Murali Vijay rather than giving a break to an 18-year-old in the seaming conditions in England.

“In challenging conditions, it’s away experience over youth. Prithvi Shaw is inducted into the team too early. India should have continued with Vijay because of his experience. They could have tried Shaw at home,” Siva said.