After rain ending all hopes of a victory for India in the 1st Test, India is hoping for a good day in office on Monday. Rishabh Pant was at the crease with Ishant Sharma during Stumps on Day 4. Surprisingly, Pant is yet to score a boundary in this innings. India has taken a lead of 154 runs. With 4 wickets still intact, Rishabh Pant will look to score some big boundaries and amplify on the 154 run lead.
The ball is turning and a lot of dust is coming off the pitch signalling that it is going to be a tough day for the batsmen. Ideally for India, they would want Rishabh Pant to score some quick runs in the 2/3rd part of the first session so that they give themselves more than two sessions to bowl England out, but first, they will have to look at adding at least 50-70 quick runs to their tally.
The Test match is in a really interesting position at this stage. It can go either way. The chances of a draw are also high. This is Test match cricket at its best!
If the Test match was played in the early 2000s or before that in a similar scenario, the Indian team would have looked to draw the Test match, but the approach of looking at Test matches has changed since Dhoni's era. The attitude changed and the belief that India can win a Test match on any given day has only risen over the years. This Virat Kohli side has only magnified this attitude towards Test cricket.
Will we see fearless cricket from Pant and others? Is there a Gaba-like surprise in store for the Indian fans? Or will India be more cautious and look to reach a safe position in the Test match?
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!