NEW DELHI: Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman praised the Indian team for winning the Test series against England after being 0-1 down.
In his column for the Times of India, Laxman wrote, “For the second successive series, India rallied from defeat in the first Test to complete a remarkable come-from-behind victory – a fitting tribute to their skills and resolve. Somewhat understandably flat in the first of two Tests in Chennai – the tour Down Under in these testing times of bio-bubbles had to be mentally and emotionally draining – India were transformed by the time of the second Test. As they grew in stature, England wilted, victims as much of their technical inadequacies against spin as the gremlins in their heads.”
Laxman credited India’s youngsters for coming good and contributing to the series victory that also sealed India’s spot in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
“India’s 3-1 victory and a place in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand in June was no more than they deserved. Impressively enough, youngsters and newcomers had as much of a hand in the scoreline as experienced hands like Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin,” Laxman wrote.
But the former wristy batsman warned the Indian team to not to take England lightly in the limited overs format series that starts from Friday.
“I expect England to be infinitely more competitive in the white-ball leg. England’s policy in recent times seems to be based around limited-overs cricket. Jolted by their first-stage elimination at the 2015 World Cup, they reinvented their approach to the shorter formats. Their designs center around all-out aggression with the bat; they also bat deep, which allows them to keep expressing themselves fearlessly even if it means very occasionally, they might self-destruct,” Laxman added.
India would be seeing the T20I series against England as a preparation for the T20 World Cup at home later this year. India have picked some newcomers for the series.
“It’s this challenge that India will look to conquer. In some ways, this is the beginning of the final stages of preparation for the T20 World Cup in seven months’ time. Yes, there is the IPL to follow, but then again, the Indian think-tank has more or less identified the nucleus around which the hosts will mount their charge for their first T20 World Cup since 2007,” Laxman opined.
Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia have earned their maiden India call-up for the series.
“Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia have been rewarded for their consistency and eye-catching performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, but they will have to wait for their chances,” Laxman wrote.
Laxman hoped that Rishabh Pant replicates his red ball form in the limited over format series. Pant had scored a brilliant hundred in the final Test against England.
“I’d love to see Rishabh Pant back in the playing eleven in both white ball variants. The young man is riding the crest of a wave. I agree this is a different cup of tea, but his confidence is sky-high. He has shown great game and situational awareness, and it is time he reclaims his place behind the stumps as well as in the middle-order, where he is the only accomplished ‘finisher’ apart from Hardik Pandya. That should mean KL Rahul batting at the top of the order in both 20 and 50-over internationals, even if it’s a bit harsh on Shikhar Dhawan. It’s been a while since India have played limited-overs internationals. I am looking forward to seeing some great cricket, and players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal, among others, back in action,” Laxman signed off.