After the Indian players concluded their optional training session on Thursday and made their way towards the team bus, their head coach Rahul Dravid strode purposefully to the center of the square. This marked his second visit of the day; earlier, during the noon with the Vizag sun already hinting at the impending summer, he had engaged with the groundstaff. Under his supervision, the tarpaulin covers were removed to assess the surface. Following a discussion with the groundsmen, the covers were replaced with sack-clothes to facilitate adequate air flow while preserving the moisture content.
In the preceding Test in Hyderabad, the morning moisture had significantly influenced the pace of spin during the first session of play on the opening day. Even in Visakhapatnam, a coastal city where winter was slowly receding, morning moisture remained a crucial factor. The decision to use sack-clothes, which retain more moisture compared to tarpaulin covers, left the potential impact on the pitch for Friday morning open to speculation.
Just as predicting India’s approach when trailing 0-1 in a series is akin to anticipating the outcome of a match, their response to adversity has often been marked by aggression and resilience. Take, for instance, the 2017 series against Australia, where they rebounded fiercely after a defeat in the first Test in Pune, delivering a compelling performance in Bengaluru. Similarly, in 2020, following the shocking 36 all out in Adelaide, they stunned everyone with a remarkable turnaround in the Boxing Day Test. Even against England in 2021, after dropping the first Test, they stormed back to claim victory in the next three matches. While their starts in long series might be sluggish, their ability to recover from setbacks and unleash their ruthless side has become a defining characteristic of this team.
As they approach the second Test, the prevailing question on everyone’s minds is whether India can recover from the significant setback inflicted by Bazballers. Unlike previous occasions where India possessed the resources and a solid game plan to stage a comeback, they currently appear to be a shadow of their former selves. Their recent track record at home reflects a three-match winless streak, adding to the mounting pressure. Compounding matters further, the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul leaves the team with a formidable challenge. Now, tasked with facing the onslaught of Bazball without these stalwarts, India finds themselves relying on relatively inexperienced batsmen. Both Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are under immense pressure to deliver runs in this critical juncture.
Problem aplenty
India has often relied on tailor-made pitches to navigate through tough situations, banking on their batting lineup to outscore the opposition. However, their decision to play on a batting-friendly surface this time underscores the concerns over their fragile batting order. The toss will be crucial as both teams might prefer to bat first on a pitch that is expected to start taking turn much later than usual.
The last time India played on a traditional home pitch, conducive to turn only on the final days, was in Chennai, where England famously outperformed them. This prompted India to switch to spin-friendly tracks. Now, the hosts are pinning their hopes on their skilled spinners – R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel – to tackle the Bazball challenge. However, it’s worth noting that Bazball is most potent on flat surfaces.
Playing XI not clear yet
In addition to scrutinizing the pitch conditions, India is engaged in intensive deliberations regarding the composition of their playing XI. The vacancy left by Rahul has sparked a dilemma between Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan. Both contenders were put through rigorous drills at the nets on Thursday, with keen observation from all quarters. With Jadeja’s absence, Kuldeep is poised to make his first appearance in a home Test in three years, completing the spin duo.
However, India is also weighing the necessity of a replacement for Jadeja’s batting prowess. Hence, Washington Sundar is under consideration. If he is to be included, Mohammed Siraj may have to make way, especially in a venue conducive to reverse swing due to the relatively firm outfield.
However, amidst the uncertainty within the team, India still harbors hope. While there may be a lack of collective clarity, individual brilliance remains a potent weapon. History attests that India has often bounced back from setbacks on the strength of exceptional performances. Whether it was Ashwin’s heroics in Bengaluru following Pune, Rahane’s resilience at the MCG, or Rohit Sharma’s pivotal innings in Chennai last year, standout displays have turned the tide in India’s favor.
With England’s spin attack missing Jack Leach in this encounter, their reliance on James Anderson will be pronounced. If either Rohit or Yashasvi Jaiswal can establish dominance at the top, they could ignite the spark that India desperately craves. In such a scenario, equilibrium could be restored to their cricketing world once more.