Former India coach-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri lambasted India’s pace bowling in the afternoon session on Day 2 of the fourth Test against England. Irritated by their poor performance, Shastri opined that Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and newcomer Anshul Kamboj would receive a bashing from the present head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel at the tea interval.
England dominated the second session, taking advantage of Ben Stokes’ earlier five-wicket performance that had bowled out India for 358. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, the openers, took advantage of the conditions, scoring 77 runs in 14 overs at a fast pace of more than five per over, revealing India’s inability to work on line and length.
Also Read: ENG Vs IND: Karun Nair Dropped For 4th Test, Fans React Furiously – ‘Truly Deserved One More Chance’
Despite hopes for bowler-friendly pitches, India’s fast bowlers consistently made mistakes, frequently overpitching and missing their mark. Shastri, visibly displeased, snapped even in the live broadcast, calling the bowling “rubbish.” Asked if he would have used the same words had he been coaching even then, he replied that he would have probably used worse words in the players’ local languages and it would have sounded even worse.
“Just not consistent enough. They will look back at this session and see, especially some of the boundary deliveries, that it’s pretty ordinary stuff, at times rubbish,” he said during commentary
“Absolutely, maybe in better terms. Maybe get the local lingo in there, which can sound harsher. Some harsh words will be exchanged by the coach and the bowling coach. That’s how he puts it across. It’s different. If he can’t, then you step in and say exactly the same.”
The England openers carried their dominance over to the final session, both scoring half-centuries and adding a century stand, tightening their stranglehold on the match further.
Earlier in the day, Rishabh Pant showed remarkable power by returning to the crease despite a fractured right toe, an injury sustained on Day 1. The India vice-captain, who had retired hurt, battled through pain to score a courageous fifty, though reports suggest he may be sidelined for up to six weeks. Stokes, in the meantime, tore through India’s tailenders to capture his first five-wicket haul in a Test since taking 6 for 22 against West Indies at Lord’s in 2017.
