Ahead of the secod Test, India coach Anil Kumble begged to differ that England gained advantage with their spinners taking 13 wickets compared to nine by the Indian spinners in the opener at Rajkot
Vizag: Ahead of the secod Test, India coach Anil Kumble begged to differ that England gained advantage with their spinners taking 13 wickets compared to nine by the Indian spinners in the opener at Rajkot.
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He praised the Indian fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami for the manner in which they have bowled during the New Zealand series as well as in the first Test against England.
“It’s not that we lose anything if English spinners get more wickets than Indian spinners. We will select team as per our strategy. We will play according to the conditions of the pitch. We play to take 20 wickets and win the match. Once we know the conditions, we will put a plan together,” said Kumble, ahead of the second Test that gets underway here tomorrow.
The former India captain also defended his fast bowlers. “Fast bowlers did really well. Shami and Umesh bowled exceptionally well. They got the ball to reverse and trouble the English batsmen. Umesh and Shami not only bowled well at Rajkot but also against New Zealand, so did Bhuvi, all the fast bowlers are doing well.”
India dropped as many as six catches in the first Test and that did not go unnoticed. “I think if you look at only aspect, where we probably we let ourselves down is catching. We have done well in all three departments over the past three and half months that I have been with the team. Catching is one area that the team prides itself. We let ourselves down in that aspect,” Kumble said.
The legendary spinner did not blame Cheteshwar Pujara for not taking DRS for the contentious leg before decision that he got. “If you look at that, probably if Pujara would had taken DRS, we would have ended at probably 170 for 1. I don’t think you can blame anyone for that. I think both batsmen felt it was not necessary.”
When asked about the possible inclusion of Jimmy Anderson in the England starting line-up, Kumble said that the focus is not on a single individual.
“He has 450 Test wickets, that’s obviously experience. He has played here before. He is a very important player for England. You need experience and when someone is available, it will be a stronger unit. We will look at England as a team and not focus on any individual,” said Kumble.
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