Expressing his hopes for the pitch, Zaheer remarked to JioCinema, “I hope the pitch is on similar lines to the one in Hyderabad and Vizag.On that kind of a surface, we should be able to see a good contest between bat and ball for the first two days and spin comes into play on the third day.”
He further added, “You’ll see some reverse swing as well. And on the fourth and fifth days, you’ll have the spinners dominating. If that is the pattern, it will make for a nice viewing experience for all the spectators and the fans will enjoy.”
Former England batter Owais Shah echoed Zaheer’s sentiments, emphasizing the anticipated challenge posed by Jasprit Bumrah‘s ability to generate reverse swing in Rajkot.
Shah highlighted, “The big match-up will be between Jasprit Bumrah and England’s middle-order. That’s because Bumrah will be able to generate reverse swing in Rajkot. When he bowls with the old ball, it becomes difficult for the England batters.”
In response to this strategy, the Ben Stokes-led England side has opted for a two-seam attack, introducing speedster Mark Wood alongside veteran James Anderson.
India’s team announcement, expected only at the toss, poses significant decisions for the management, particularly with spinner all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja set to return at his home venue.
Jasprit Bumrah (AI generated image)
Zaheer Khan highlighted the complexities faced by India’s decision-makers, stating, “That’s another headache once you have picked the squad! Whether it’s going to be Axar (Patel), whether it’s going to be Kuldeep (Yadav) or you are going to pick all of them.”
He further emphasized, “This is something India will be thinking about, whether you need that extra bowler along with Jasprit (Bumrah). It will also depend on how the pitch is going to play, so some complex decision making will be involved. But there’s a lot to think about for the decision makers.”
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(With inputs from PTI)