Debasis Sen from Manchester
Dilip Vengsarkar, former India cricketer and former chairman of selectors, has come down hard on the Indian team management for allowing Jasprit Bumrah to pick and choose which Test matches he would want to play during the ongoing tour of England. Vengsarkar believes that if a player is fit and available, he must be part of every game, emphasising that national duty should take precedence.
Currently in Manchester with his academy boys, Vengsarkar took time to visit the Westhoughton Cricket Club for whom he played back in 1985. In an exclusive conversation with RevSportz, he opened up on several key issues, including India’s heartbreaking defeat at Lord’s, Shubman Gill’s leadership in the series, KL Rahul’s standout performances with the bat, the team’s prospects heading into the fourth Test at Old Trafford, and much more. Here are the excerpts:
What are your views on Bumrah being selective about playing matches in this Test series?
Dilip Vengsarkar: I’m not in favour of bowlers picking and choosing Test matches. If you’re fit and available, you should play all the matches for your country. Bumrah is a world-class bowler, and he can win matches for India. But once you’re on tour, you need to play every match. There’s no question of selecting matches based on personal preference.
What is important is playing for India and if you are unfit, then don’t play at all. He had a gap of almost 7-8 days after the first Test match, but still was not included for the second Test which was not acceptable. Maybe it was acceptable for Agarkar and Gambhir.
What are your thoughts on India’s heartbreaking loss at Lord’s?
Dilip Vengsarkar: It’s extremely unfortunate and disappointing. I believe we should have won the Lord’s Test. The team fought hard till the very end, but I feel Jadeja should have taken some risks. Of course, that’s something we can only say in hindsight. But if there had been one more partnership, I believe we would have won the game.
Do you believe Nitish Reddy and Jadeja could have been more aggressive when they stitched a partnership?
Dilip Vengsarkar: Well, it’s easy to say that now in hindsight. They were building a crucial partnership which was very important. Unfortunately, Reddy got out to a beauty. After that, I thought there could have been another partnership. Bumrah played well, but then he got out playing an unfortunate shot. Someone needed to take a risk, and Bumrah tried his best. Jadeja kept the hopes alive for us, but it wasn’t to be. Siraj tried but you don’t expect your No 11 to be around for a long time. Jadeja might have been absolutely shattered.
Talking about KL Rahul, he has been in outstanding form. What are your thoughts on his form in this series?
Dilip Vengsarkar: KL Rahul has been in great form. He’s always been a fantastic player. It’s not just the IPL, but also his performances for his state, zone and for India. He’s played some crucial innings for India, and he did very well at Lord’s. He was also superb in the first two Test matches at Headingley and Edgbaston. When you’re in good form in England, it’s a great opportunity to score runs.
Have you noticed any technical changes in Rahul’s batting, particularly in these conditions where the ball seams and swings at the start of the innings?
Dilip Vengsarkar: In England, you need to play very close to your body because the ball swings a lot. Rahul’s adapted to that very well. What is important is the consistency at this level. He doesn’t play big shots but plays very compact and solid cricket. His consistency at this level is very important, and Rahul has shown that he is a top-class player. He has adapted well to the conditions
Yashasvi Jaiswal started the series on a high, scoring a hundred at Headingley. However, his dismissals at Lord’s have been criticised. How do you look at Jaiswal’s performance?
Dilip Vengsarkar: Jaiswal is a good player with a lot of potential, but he needs to curb his aggressive instincts at times. In Test cricket, you have to play each ball on its merit. A slight mistake and you’re out. Since his hundred, he hasn’t been among the runs, but consistency is key at the highest level. I expect a lot from him in Test cricket. Yes, he’s got a lot of talent. But in Test cricket, he has to play every ball on its merit and not go beyond his natural ability. He needs to stay grounded, keep his head on his shoulders, and give 100% to the game and the team. That’s what I expect from him.
Shubman Gill has been phenomenal in this series. However, his performance at Lord’s seemed a bit off. Do you think the incident with Zak Crawley affected his batting?
Dilip Vengsarkar: I don’t think so. That incident was something Gill felt very strongly about and he made his feelings clear. But I don’t think it affected his batting at all. He’s a top-class player, and his temperament and skill level have been on display throughout the series. He played superbly at Headingley, and I don’t think the incident at Lord’s had an impact on him.
Do you think he is flourishing as a captain? The extra responsibility doesn’t seem to affect his batting…
Dilip Vengsarkar: Every captain needs to be in form and lead from the front, and that is what Shubman has done so far in the series. He has been leading the team well. He’s got runs and is a good thinker of the game. I believe he is a good captain and I wish him all the best.
India have had some great No. 3 batters like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. Do you think Nair has what it takes to cement his place in the team?
Dilip Vengsarkar: Karun Nair is a good player. He has shown promise but needs to convert those 30s and 40s into big scores. He’s an experienced player and knows what he has to do. I’d give him one more Test match to prove himself. He’s capable of scoring a hundred, and I hope he does in the next match.
Do you see any changes for the fourth Test?
Dilip Vengsarkar: I would pick Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. Arshdeep is a good left-arm bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the wicket, which is crucial in English conditions. He can also reverse swing the ball, which is important. I have seen him bowl.
Who would you drop to make way for Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI?
Dilip Vengsarkar: I would drop Nitish Reddy and perhaps one more player to make room for Arshdeep. I think Siraj and Bumrah should keep their places, but Reddy could make way. Kuldeep Yadav could also replace someone like Washington Sundar. You need five bowlers in a Test match to win it. If your six batters can’t put up a good total, the bowlers need to take responsibility. You can’t win a Test match with part-time bowlers.
Talking about the conditions in Manchester, do you think playing two spinners would help the team to pick up 20 wickets?
Dilip Vengsarkar: You definitely need five bowlers, and Kuldeep Yadav could be a good option if the conditions support spin. With Bumrah, Siraj and Arshdeep, plus a spinner like Kuldeep, India would have the right mix of bowlers. They can win with this combination, but the batters must take responsibility.
What is your take on Gautam Gambhir’s coaching and his stint so far with the Indian Test team?
Dilip Vengsarkar: I can’t comment on Gambhir’s coaching as I haven’t been involved with it directly. It’s better to ask the players or officials about that. From my outside perspective, I cannot say much.
What are your predictions for the series with England taking a 2-1 lead? And what do you think India needs to do to win the Manchester Test?
Dilip Vengsarkar: India has the capability to win both the series and the Manchester Test. They just need to play to their potential. They’ve got a strong team with a lot of talent. I’m confident that they’ll do well and win the Test.
What’s your message for the upcoming Test at Old Trafford?
Dilip Vengsarkar: India needs to believe in their ability and try to win the Test match and level the series. They’ve got a very good team with tremendous potential, and they have to play to win. Confidence is key at this level, and they need to play as per the merit of the game. They should believe in their ability to win the match.
Finally, how nostalgic were you visiting Westhoughton cricket club for whom you played way back in 1985?
Dilip Vengsarkar: It’s amazing, very emotional I would say. I’ve seen all those players who played with me back then, and now they are the officials of the club, looking after it. It’s great to be back here. We played here last year as well, and I played here in 1985. We had an excellent season, but the ground back then was quite old. The new ground they’ve built now is fantastic, and I’m so happy to be back.
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🚨EXCLUSIVE
Dilip Vengsarkar Reacts to India’s Lord’s Test Loss | Exclusive Interview from Westhoughton
Former India captain and selector Dilip Vengsarkar opens up exclusively to RevSportz on India’s heartbreaking loss at Lord’s, Shubman Gill’s captaincy, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s… pic.twitter.com/GJqcwsTA0y
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