Day 4 of the Edgbaston Test proved to be a major thorn for Team India who are firmly under the cosh right now. After being bowled out for 245 with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer gifting their wickets away, India failed to make an impression with the ball.
Despite setting England a formidable target of 378, the Indian bowling unit failed to make inroads with the ball and looked all over the place. As a result, they conceded runs aplenty which gave England a more secure platform to inflict more damage.
The hosts’ ascendancy began with openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley playing freely and leading the counter-charge on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. They registered a solid 107-run opening stand before India were able to register their first success in the final innings. Zak Crawley got bowled by Jasprit Bumrah while Alex Lees got run out after a miscommunication with Joe Root having scored a half-century.
Ollie Pope arrived and left for a duck but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow not only consolidated their stay on the crease but tightened the screws around some lackadaisical Indian bowling. The duo added an unbeaten 150 runs by stumps on Day 4 to put the pressure on India and both Root and Bairstow are batting in their 70s.
Reviewing India’s effort with the ball in the final innings, former pace bowler Zaheer Khan suggested that the visitors’ body language had left a lot to be desired. Their shoulders had dropped after England registered a positive start and India struggled to find their way back since.
“After a while, it seemed that doubts had crept into their (India’s) minds. Their body language showed it and they could not bring out that desired intensity on the field. It happens during a big partnership,” he said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.
The former fast bowler also mentioned that the Indian team will need a real dose of positive motivation heading into the final day of the Test if they want to compete with England and wish to remain in the game. England need 119 runs in 100 overs to win the match while India need to scalp seven wickets.
“India need to put behind the bad day and come back with renewed vigor on Day 5. Someone needs to give them a pep talk or lift them somehow.”
