Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa questioned Team India’s composition after India suffered a 30-run loss against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Uthappa questioned the team’s preparations ahead of the series and said India is playing too much cricket.
The former flamboyant batter said Team India is lacking a quality third seamer in their bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are India’s first choice pacers in the red-ball format whereas the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep have done a decent job.
“Visiting teams play lesser cricket than India and have far more time for preparation. There is too much cricket happening. You are going with one size fits all and trying to produce results. There needs to be a sense of realism about the goal for the next two years. Yes, you want to get to the WTC final, but is this team ready to get there? Who is really effective outside of Bumrah and Siraj? We are missing a third pacer. They are trying out a bunch of guys. In all honesty, we don’t have a confirmed third fast bowler,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
Earlier, former Indian captain Virat Kohli said India should have a maximum of five Test centres in the country. Uthappa concurred with Kohli and said India is trying to produce positive results after playing everywhere in the country.
“Spinners are not going to be as effective abroad and are going to be fillers. India don’t have Test centres as a country. You are randomly playing Tests everywhere and trying to produce results in your favor. That takes away from the larger goal. If you have Test centres, you can curate home advantage based on the visiting team. India are not doing that. Virat spoke of this when he also captained and India are missing home advantage by playing at random venues,” Robin Uthappa explained.
The former KKR batter said there is not a lot of gap between the top four-five teams in Test cricket.
“There’s not a lot separating the top four-five teams in Test cricket at the moment. All of them are filling up slots and the team that feels like they have most of their pieces in place is South Africa. In the Ashes, I think Australia start from behind and England have the upper hand. England’s batting is stronger, but they might suffer in the bowling,” he said.
India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.
