Following a 28-run setback in the series opener in Hyderabad, India bounced back strongly, clinching victory in the second Test by 106 runs and dominating the third Test with a resounding 434-run win to claim the series lead.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his insights on the Ranchi pitch, anticipating that England’s premier pacer James Anderson may be sidelined for the upcoming match.
Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, suggested that the Ranchi track, being a black soil wicket, is likely to slow down and offer minimal assistance to fast bowlers.
According to Chopra, Mark Wood, who claimed four wickets in the third Test in Rajkot, might also find himself absent from the England eleven in Ranchi.
“The Ranchi pitch is a black-soil pitch and it keeps getting slow, slower, slowest. This pitch doesn’t have bounce and pace. So there won’t be much help for fast bowlers here. I feel Jimmy Anderson won’t play and Mark Wood might also not play. They might play two new bowlers,” Chopra said.
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The former India cricketer also preferred Ollie Robinson ahead of Anderson.
“If Jimmy Anderson doesn’t play, Ollie Robinson might play. He is a very decent bowler. Gus Atkinson is also with this team, otherwise. They can play Shoaib Bashir as well if they wish. I feel the attack will be spin-heavy in this game,” he added.