XtraTime Web Desk: Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has urged Virat Kohli to stick with Shikhar Dhawan for the opening Test against England in Birmingham. Dhawan, who incurred two ducks against Essex in the sole practice match, faces competition from KL Rahul for the opening spot.
Much has been talked about India’s team composition for the opening Test against England in Birmingham. While the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah has limited the team’s options in pace department, the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav has given the team management a headache for the selection of spinners. Another area of concern for Team India is the opening slot where Shikhar Dhawan hasn’t shown the required promise to pair him alongside Murali Vijay.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman, who also plays the role of a mentor at the Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad that Shikhar Dhawan plays for, has urged Indian skipper Virat Kohli not to drop the left-hander in the Edgbaston Test despite the fact that Shikhar bagged two successive ducks in the practice game against Essex.
Laxman backed Dhawan to be included in the first Test on the basis of his limited overs form as well as the fact that he scored a first-session ton against Afghanistan. The retired batsman believes that a free-minded Dhawan has the ability to stamp his authority on James Anderson and Stuart Broad which is going to be hugely beneficial for the visitors.
“India must stick with Shikhar Dhawan for the first Test. He looked in very good touch in the limited-overs games, and made a hundred in the first session of the game in his last Test appearance, against Afghanistan.
“He must be encouraged to go out and play freely, without the fear of failure weighing on his mind, because that’s when he is at his most dangerous. Shikhar can take the game away from the opposition very early, and if he can stamp his authority on James Anderson and Stuart Broad, it will neutralise England’s biggest threats,” Laxman wrote in his column for TOI.
Dwelling on the spin-bowling options that Team India has, Laxman believes that Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin would be the ideal pairing for India while Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav would be the ideal pace-bowling pair in the first Test.
“I also feel that the bowling attack should include the proven R Ashwin and the exciting Kuldeep Yadav. Both spinners are wicket-taking bowlers who should relish the dry conditions forecast for the match, and with Ashwin boasting four Test hundreds, India will not be light on batting either.
“I would love to see Hardik Pandya at No. 7. He will also complement the new ball pair of Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma. I don’t believe Mohammed Shami has enough bowling under his belt in recent times to displace either Umesh or Ishant,” Laxman added.
While Dhawan had incurred two ducks in two innings against Essex in the warm-up game, KL Rahul had impressed everyone with solitary performances.