‘Don’t panic...’: Ravichandran Ashwin’s advice for Shubman Gill and co

In terms of the result, the Shubman Gill era of Test cricket for India didn’t quite go according to plan. However, considering that this is a side in transition, the visitors did well not to be trounced in the first Test of a challenging Test series in England.

 

Multiple times in the Test match, India had their noses in front and looked set to take an astonishing series lead. However, batting collapses in both innings and poor fielding primarily cost the tourists as England’s famous BazBall approach saw them chase down 371 with minimal fuss. Understandably, the knives are out to attack Gill’s men but former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin doesn’t feel too many changes are required so early in the series.

 

Given that England’s batting approach invariably runs the risk of them giving their bowlers less time to rest between the two bowling innings of a Test match, Ashwin feels that India need to play their cards smartly if they are to bounce back in the series.

 

"One thing that the Indian team's batting can focus on is in every innings, can you extend your batting with time - not by runs. Increase the amount of time England are fielding and increase the amount of time you keep them on the field," said Ashwin while speaking on his official YouTube channel.

 

“I will say one thing - don't panic and change drastically. India could and might level the series in the next Test. But if we don't understand the tactics England are using, this series could very well go away from us quickly."

 

For the record, India batted for 113 overs and 96 overs in the two innings of the Headingley Test. The tourists scored at a reasonably brisk rate but Ashwin feels that tiring out England’s bowlers will be a key method going forward in such a long series. Particularly when you factor in that Ben Stokes’s side are already missing multiple frontline bowlers due to injury in this series. The batting collapses in both innings were hugely critical in the context of the game, given that India had the chance to bat England out of the game on two occasions but let it slip.

 

In the first innings, India were sitting pretty at 430/3 thanks to a 209-run stand between Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill after the latter had previously stitched a 129-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, too. However, India lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs to finish with 471. Similarly, in the second innings, Pant and KL Rahul had taken India to 287/3 but India soon lost the plot and were bowled out for 364. What could have been a potential first innings total of 600-plus score fell way short of the mark and then, a possible lead of 450-plus ended up as a target of 371. It was still a strong target but in the modern era on good batting tracks, Ashwin feels that the number has to be higher.

 

"If you want to set a target, you will have to keep a minimum of 400–450. I would say 450 with as little time as possible is the best way to win a Test match in England at this point of time. If the wicket is such."

 

While too many changes so early in the series are ill-advised – Ashwin also doesn’t believe in it – the off-spinner mentioned one big change that he would be keen to see in India’s playing XI for Edgbaston. India went with four frontline seamers and the lone spinner in Ravindra Jadeja at Headingley and it is a combination that didn’t work. Prasidh Krishna, the third seamer, was good only in parts while the fourth pacer Shardul Thakur was underused considerably. The latter, whose batting ability was also factor in his inclusion, didn’t get going with the willow either. It raised questions about whether India could have gone for a batting all-rounder in Nitish Reddy to lengthen the batting line-up or another spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.

 

While it is impossible to change the past, Ashwin hopes that better sense prevails in the team selection for Birmingham. He also hopes that Yadav gets a look-in for the second Test match as the wrist spinner would be the ideal x-factor. On a fifth day pitch with reasonable footmarks in Headingley, Jadeja struggled to create consistent impact and it will not be wrong to say that India missed an extra spinner on the final day.

 

"I want to see how England go about when they face him. If Kuldeep can get you a 3/100 and reduce the first-inning score to 350, then you have a lead of 125," he said. "I 100 per cent believed that Kuldeep had a role and he would be a decisive factor.”

 

Ashwin also heaped praises on Pant who became only the second wicket-keeper batter after Andy Flower to score twin tons in a Test match. He also broke several records including the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicket-keeper batter, overcoming M.S. Dhoni in the process. While the southpaw is a wicket-keeper batter by design, Ashwin felt that it is time that Pant is considered as a frontline batter and opined that he shouldn’t be compared to Dhoni in terms of stats and impact as a batter.

 

“Rishabh Pant should be compared with the likes of Virat Kohli. He is a mainstream batter. Because he has got so much time. Some of these special batters have that knack of picking the ball early. They pick the line quickly, pick the length quickly and they get into lovely positions. Rishabh Pant is one of those rare players who has got that special skill.”

 

The spin legend also hailed the underrated aspect of Pant’s game that often gets underappreciated – his defensive game. Known for his explosive gameplay and daredevil mindset at the crease, Pant often weathers tough spells of bowling too, showing grit and resolve during this stints. It is this ability of his to go through the gears that has helped him conjure a largely successful Test career so far. But it’s also due to these qualities that Ashwin has a special request for India’s Test vice-captain. A request that all Indian supporters would also be wishing silently in their minds. While he had more than done his bit at Headingley in both innings, another 30-40 minutes of Pant in either innings could have shut the door firmly on England.

 

"Rishabh has had a fabulous game as a batter. But I would like to repeat that Rishabh has got a great defence. There is not one shot in the book that he cannot play. Can I request you to make a double 100 next time when you're batting at 130? Because, you know that lower order doesn't mean more contribution. So, in your situation, I request you to please take the team to the last day.”

 

Ashwin also had words of comfort for young Yashasvi Jaiswal who has come in for scathing criticism for dropping a plethora of catches at Headingley. The young opener had also endured a few critical dropped catches during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia recently. However, this tour of England is different for the Mumbai lad as he has had to shoulder responsibilities in the slip and gully regions, something that he previously didn’t do when the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli manned the slip region. Ashwin feels that the criticism around Jaiswal is going overboard.

 

“Jaiswal has been one of the most improved fielders in the slip cordon... The Dukes ball feels a little bigger and harder. So, that feel is very important. You know how much sledging is done by the crowd. So, I do feel for Yashasvi.”

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