What Can India Do To Win The 5th Test?

India can win the 5th test if:

1.If the batsmen spend time at the crease rather than drinking cola in the dressing room.
2.If the bowlers bowl a consistent line and length.
3.And most importantly, if the team does not mistake Stuart Broad to be Bane if he comes on to bowl wearing a mask!

There is a lot of analysis done as to what should be the Indian team’s strategy to win the 5th test at Leeds and thereby salvage some pride. After all, what can we the fans do, other than to predict and pray? India has lost the last 2 tests with such margins that can make the Zimbabwean cricket board think of arranging a bilateral series. But as they say, hope is not a good thing to be lost.

The Strategy:

The not so good thing about having a strategy is that it sometimes makes you fail. M.S Dhoni is a known strategist on the field and sometimes he gets his calls right but sometimes he doesn’t. As a fan, my prayers and predictions would still roll out. The Oval at Leeds is known to be a spinner friendly track, provided India bats first, stays through the first day and puts England to bat by Lunch on day 2. That’s a tough ask at the moment but doable. Dhoni should not let Gambhir go back into his cocoon and make him face as many balls as possible in the nets today. To do that, Dhoni should attend the practice sessions first!

There is a lot of talk about promoting Rahane up the order. While that seems a rosy option, given that he has been the highest run scorer in the series, you don’t let your best soldier to go out and die first. Rahane is doing a wonderful job at no. 5 and Dhoni should make sure he stays there and he gives him company at the crease coming in at no.6. When the score board reads something like 130/3, it should be Rahane and Dhoni who should take it to 430/4. This hasn’t been Pujara’s series at all. Let him gain back his lost mojo.

The Return of Ishant Sharma:

After his amazing (hope it’s not a one-off) stint at Lord’s, the nation awaits his return in Leeds. He has been bowling well in the nets and is almost confirmed to play. Is there is anyone who can keep the attack going on at the other end? It’s a just a matter of hours before we can find out. Sunil Gavaskar, the batting legend spoke to the BBC and said- “India haven’t shown their backbone in the series…” That’s a pretty grave concern. If M.S Dhoni, or whoever has India’s backbone at the moment, they should quickly get it out in the open and show it to England. Especially in a situation when Stuart Broad comes into bowl with a mask!