4 things we learned from the first day's play in the England vs India test match

#2 India’s relatively lighter batting line-up might be exposed

Dinesh Kartik

India are playing 4 specialist bowlers and an all-rounder in this test and the decision to go with a relatively lighter batting line-up might backfire. Neither Hardik Pandya nor Dinesh Kartik is a test no. 6 and therefore, it won’t be easy for them to cope on this seemingly difficult pitch. Kartik would play as the no. 6 batsman but he might be found wanting.

Although England also went ahead with the strategy of playing an all-rounder at no. 6, it is India who would have to bat in the 4th innings. It would probably have made more sense to drop Pandya and go with a specialist batsman. That would have given India a better chance of saving the match under trying circumstances in the 4th innings.