India’s successful run in the ongoing T20I series against England came to a sudden halt after they faced a shocking 26-run defeat in the third match. Playing in Rajkot, the hosts restricted England to 171/9 after opting to bowl first. However, in the chase, India kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and could manage only 145/9, falling short of 26 runs. The entire batting lineup of India miserably failed to put up a good show as Hardik Pandya‘s 35-ball-40-run knock became their only saving grace.

As the scoreline of the five-match series now reads 2-1 in the favour of the hosts, former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel slammed Hardik for his slow approach in the match.

“One cannot take 20-25 balls to get set in a T20I. Can’t take 20-25 balls to get set. I understand taking your time but you have to keep rotating the strike. Hardik may have ended up with 40 off 35, but there were a lot of dot balls at the start of his innings,” said Parthiv in the post-match show on Star Sports.

Apart from Parthiv, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen also questioned Team India’s decision of pushing Dhruv Jurel at No.8.

“India didn’t get the batting order right. Dhruv Jurel is an accomplished batter. Having him lower down the order for the left and right combination was not right. I’m a firm believer in your best batters batting up front,” said Pietersen.

“Left and right combination is alright till No.4 but after that you should send your best batters. Jurel is a proper batsman. He could have constructed a big innings,” he added.

Despite being on the losing side, India also had a silver-lining in spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took a five-wicket haul. Chakravarthy has been a revelation for the T20I side since his return to the set-up last year, having last played for India in 2021 before that.

During the third T20I, Chakravarthy shined with figures of 5/24 in four overs, getting wickets of skipper Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer.

Team Gujarat Titans in action© BCCI

File image of Gujarat Titans© BCCI

Ahead of India’s three match Test series against New Zealand, former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel firmly believes the Rohit Sharma-led side is capable of beating any side in the world currently in the longest format of the game. Since the time New Zealand beat India in 2021 World Test Championship final, India made it to another final in 2023 and is currently the top-ranked side in this format. They are also coming off after a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh, especially after batting aggressively in the rain-hit Kanpur Test to register a remarkable triumph.

“I don’t see pitches being like what they were against Bangladesh. It won’t be seaming as much as it was in Chennai and Kanpur, but looking at this squad, I don’t think India needs those kinds of pitches or even turners. This Indian team is good enough to beat any side in the world at this point.”

“Obviously, they would like to get some runs from Rohit Sharma with the way he has been playing and Axar Patel may get an opportunity. Against New Zealand, you want to win the series and India will be challenged at some point. But I think India has the personnel to defeat New Zealand,” said Parthiv to JioCinema.

India will play the opening game against New Zealand at Bengaluru on October 16, followed by playing next two matches in Pune and Mumbai. Parthiv, who earned 25 Test caps, feels India need to be wary of challenge from left-arm spin duo of Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, owing to the batters’ previous struggles against them.

“With the WTC in mind, I’m sure India would like to win 3-0, and that’s a likely outcome. But India will be challenged, and their biggest challenge will be handling left-arm spinners, Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel. India has always struggled against left-arm spinners, so that will be their biggest test.”

Ex-keeper and selector Saba Karim thinks India have to be focused on the task at their hand, instead of thinking about the all-important five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia later this year.

“I think India’s biggest challenge will be to stay focused on the present and not think too far ahead to the Australian tour. They need to build on the positives we’ve seen in recent home series, like the emergence of exciting young pace bowlers.”

“Akash Deep was a revelation, and India also has several spinners to choose from. The selectors and team management will have to figure out the best combination to play, but personally, I’d love to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli firing at the top.”

India also have four traveling reserves in Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav and Prasidh Krishna for the Tests against New Zealand, which caught Karim’s curiosity. He signed off by cautioning India over taking New Zealand, who lost 2-0 in Sri Lanka, lightly.

“I think this is the first time since COVID that we are seeing four travelling reserves, which means that the Indian team management is already looking ahead to the Australian tour. The team looks well-equipped and well-balanced in terms of quality.”

“However, New Zealand has always been a very competitive side. Although they suffered a heavy defeat in Sri Lanka and may feel deflated, they have an inner strength that could surface. Since they’ve played in India before and managed to draw a game last time, India will have to work hard.”

File photo of Virat Kohli.© BCCI

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel feels there is “no harm” in trying Yash Dayal in place of either Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj for the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, beginning on Friday. Before the beginning of the Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai, skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that the workload management of their pacers will be monitored throughout their jam-packed Test schedule, which will last till January next year. India stamped their authority in the opening Test by sealing a 280-run victory. In the pre-match press conference on Thursday, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar didn’t dwell on the details of the playing XI.

Parthiv feels that Dayal, who has “tremendous potential,” can come in place of either Siraj or Bumrah, presenting a chance for everyone to see a left-arm pacer in action for India.

“This will be a great chance to see a left-armer. It has been a while since India had a left-arm seamer, so I feel if he gets the chance, it will be good. We will know. Yash Dayal has tremendous potential. So I don’t think there is harm in trying,” Parthiv Patel, who is an expert on JioCinema and Sports18 told ANI.

Another aspect that will be keenly looked at will be the middle-order setup of the Rohit-led side. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Dhruv Jurel are knocking on the door after impressing during India’s 4-1 series triumph over England earlier this year.

With the return of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in the Test setup, Parthiv finds it hard to see the duo feature in the playing XI and could have to wait for their opportunities.

“I don’t think Sarfaraz and Dhruv will make a comeback to the side. Rishabh has just made a comeback. Both of them are very very talented players and very much ready for Test cricket. But they will have to wait for their chances,” Parthiv added.

Jurel earned his maiden Test cap for India against England in the 3rd Test in Rajkot. In his debut Test, the young wicketkeeper batter played a promising 46-run knock.

In the fourth Test, he played a match-saving knock of 90 (149) in the first inning, which propelled India’s score to 307.

Sarfaraz acted as the backbone of the Indian middle order. He garnered 200 in three matches at an average of 50.00.

Jurel and Dayal have been drafted in the Rest of India’s squad for the upcoming Irani Cup. On the other hand, Sarfaraz has been selected in Mumbai’s squad. If they are unable to make it to the playing XI against Bangladesh, they will be available to feature in the Irani Cup.

Sanju Samson (L) and Rishabh Pant© X (formerly Twitter)

A team like India, which doesn’t have players competing round the year in T20 leagues across the globe, doesn’t need two separate coaches for the limited overs and Test format, feels former England spinner Graeme Swann. The BCCI has invited fresh applications for the head coach position, with a deadline set for May 27 as Rahul Dravid is unlikely to continue after the T20 World Cup. “For a nation like India, because of the IPL and the fact the players don’t play other leagues, people are based in India whole year round. You don’t need split (separate) coaches,” Swann replied to a PTI at the launch of the Legends Intercontinental T20 league here on Thursday.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who is currently with the Kolkata Knight Riders as team mentor, has emerged as the front runner to succeed Dravid as the likes of reputed overseas coaches like Australians Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer and Zimbabwean Andy Flower have ruled themselves out of contention.

England have adopted split coaching with Brendon McCullum serving as the red-ball coach while Matthew Mott presides over white-ball formats.

South Africa (Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter) and Pakistan (Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie) also have separate coaches for limited overs and red ball cricket.

“In England, we have three teams that go all around the world cause our summer is in a different time, that’s one of the main reasons that split coaches in England. You don’t need it in India,” the 45-year off spinner, who has played 60 Tests, 79 ODIs, and 39 T20Is for England between 2000-2013.

“A good coach is a good coach, he’s the right man for all three forms so be it. If the guy is specialist in white ball cricket and he’s available then you can use him,” Swann added.

But BCCI secretary Jay Shah has already ruled out the possibility of having different coaches for red and white ball formats.

India doesn’t need overseas coaches: Parthiv

Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes that India boasts an abundance of talented coaches and sees no need to look beyond its borders for a new head coach.

“There are a lot of coaches from NCA that have joined Indian team, I don’t see the need for overseas coaches,” Parthiv said.

“India has so many capable coaches. Every other year our U-19 team wins the World Cup, India A team does well on overseas tours. They are coached by Indians so why do we need outside coaches? Chandrakant Pandit is a huge example,” he added.

National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman has been regularly stepping in for Dravid and “We have seen when Rahul Bhai is coach, Laxman bhai filling in for him. Though it’s not just the two coaches as there are other NCA coaches,” Parthiv said.