The second Test match is going on between India and England at Edgbaston, and this time India has completely won the match.
By the fourth day, England’s condition has become weak, and now they have a huge target of 608 runs in front of them.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has clearly said, “They cannot win this match.”
Vaughan has appealed to Ben Stokes’ team not to think about victory now, but to bat for a draw.
India has performed brilliantly in this Test. Batting first, India scored 587 runs, in which captain Shubman Gill played a brilliant innings of 269 runs. Gill also scored 161 runs in the second innings, and India declared the innings at 427/6.
After this, the bowling of Akash Deep and Mohammad Siraj destroyed England’s top order. The ball with which Akash Deep dismissed Joe Root is considered to be the best delivery of this series.
The real test of Bazball
England’s ‘Bazball’ style, that is, always aggressive batting, is in trouble this time.
Vaughan said on BBC, “England will now have to change their habit. If they play aggressively like always, they will get out early. Do they have the courage and skill to save a draw by batting all day?”
Vaughan believes that if England draws from this situation, it will be a bigger success than their previous victory.
England have played 34 Tests so far under Stokes’ captaincy, in which only one draw happened, that too due to rain.
With 21 wins and 12 losses, the England team always plays for victory, but this time India has put them on the backfoot.
India now need only seven wickets, and if there is no rain, India can win a Test at Edgbaston for the first time under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
For now, the fifth day of play is going to be exciting. Will England give up their basketball style and fight for a draw, or will India secure their victory?
Rain can also be a big factor, as the weather department has predicted rain on the last day. But if India capitalizes on the opportunity, Gill can create history.
