The normally staid Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium witnessed a flurry of activity under an unforgiving sun on Friday.
No sooner had the players arrived for the optional session sans the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Dravid made a dash to have a close look at the wicket. What followed a few rounds of discussion with the curator was the trimming of the grass fuelling speculation that the team would go in with three spinners.
The pitch has been relaid for the World Cup after several complaints from IPL franchises last season. The turf with red clay soil is expected to afford some turn though it doesn’t possess the typical bone dry nature.
The three matches on this surface so far have produced decent scores with South Africa scoring in excess of 300 in the opener here. The even bounce and carry has made it easier for the batters resulting in an almost run-a-ball century from Quinton de Kock.
But the tactician in Dravid wouldn’t allow England any such leeway on Sunday. Having made it five out of five in Dharamsala, Rohit too would be keen to pin the Englishmen on the mat and book a semi-final berth here itself.
England have been witnessing a nightmarish campaign with their title defence in a shambles. Jos Buttler’s men struggled against Afghanistan’s spin trio at the Kotla and the Indians would want to make most of the opportunities at hand.
The inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin is sure to provide the attack with more firepower but Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul in their last match has put the think-tank in a quandary.
Had Hardik Pandya been available, it would have been a straight switch between Shardul Thakur and Ashwin. But Pandya’s injury has upset the balance and the team management’s calculations.
Without disturbing the top-six in the batting order, it would be prudent to ring in changes in the bowling combination to suit the team’s needs. When the selectors decided to include Ashwin in place of the injured Axar Patel, the strategy was clear: play him at venues which suit his style and against opposition who struggle against spin.
With Shami’s place now confirmed in the XI and Jasprit Bumrah irreplaceable, the only option left for Rohit is to rest Mohammed Siraj. Ashwin’s inclusion also provides a batting cushion since the off-spinner has the ability to hold the innings together.
Ashwin has been the most economical of the spinners and enjoyed significant success against the English top-order. With no sixth bowling option available, the five specialists need to be disciplined. The circumstances could dictate the team management’s choice in such a scenario.
