Many experts have already made their India-England series predictions, but then don’t hold much weight. But whatever Sachin Tendulkar says, holds utter importance. The Master Blaster feels that the Indian team under Shubman Gill‘s leadership can pouch the series 3-1. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, he said, “I have settled for 3-1 to India.”
3-1 Series Win On the Cards?
One should not totally rule out the result, given India had drawn the series 2-2 the last time around, and were leading 2-1 after a long-long break in the series. Having said that, he did speak about the Indian batters, and what they should, and should not do. He started with Gill, saying, “My advice to him [Gill] would be that he should not worry about what x, y, z is saying…
“I think what he needs to think about is what was discussed in the dressing room – when they are planning something, are they going according to that plan and whether the decision being made is in the interests of the team – that is what he needs to think about and not about the outside world.”
Rishabh Pant Needs to Have Flexibility in Mind
Tendulkar offered some valuable advice to struggling Rishabh Pant as well, who really needs to come out good, if India has to be in any sort of contention. He had a tough Australia tour, and then his IPL wasn’t great either. He [Pant] should back his instincts most of the time,” Tendulkar said.
“But there’ll be situations where he’ll have to curb his game in the interests of the team. I know that whatever he does the rest of the time will also be in the interest of the team, but the approach might have to be different. He has to have that flexibility in his mind.”
The legend did not stop there, and said that Pant should be allowed to play the way he does, except for just one exception. “Otherwise, nine out of ten times, if I’m the captain, I’ll say, ‘Just go out and play your game, why worry about anything.’ If you’re looking to save the game, that is when the approach changes a bit, but otherwise I would tell him that you go out and be yourself and do what you feel is in the best interest of the team.”
