India chase a dream to turn a two-Test deficit into a winning one against England

By Chetan Narula

Don Bradman’s Australia were the last to turn a two-Test deficit into a winning one, with a 3-2 victory over England in the 1936-37 Ashes. If India are to replicate this feat, they cannot afford mistakes.

“I don’t see India winning this series, for the simple reason that it is a very tough ask to win three back-toback Tests for visiting sides here in England,” said former opener Nick Compton.


The thing about playing in England is that there are so many uncontrollable factors. Just the weather has wind, cloud cover, moisture in the air and surface as factors. Then there is the green-top laid out for this Southampton Test, a departure from 2014 when England beat India by 266 runs in 2014.

Twice earlier in this series, India made selection howlers and paid a heavy price.

In Birmingham, they left out Cheteshwar Pujara, and then at Lord’s, they played a second spinner instead of a third pacer. Simply put, mistakes will bear a heavier price this time.

On Wednesday Virat Kohli hinted that he might be ready to name an unchanged side for the first time in 39 Tests. It will be ironical to say the least because India’s run of chopping and changing goes back 45 Tests to Southampton on that 2014 tour. With the return of Jasprit Bumrah, and the batting line-up finding some form, India hit upon the perfect balance in their playing eleven at Nottingham. On Thursday morning, when they set about repeating that dominant performance, this will be the minimum requirement.

“If Nottingham was hard, then this (Southampton Test) will be even harder. England will want to come back stronger. We will have to be even better than how we played in the last Test to get the result to go our way,” Kohli said.