IND vs ENG: India batting coach Vikram Rathour reveals Ranchi pitch nature ahead of 4th test

Vikram Rathour opened up on Ranchi pitch ahead of the fourth test match between India and England.

India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour has opened up on the Ranchi pitch. Calling it a “typical Indian wicket” he also added that the ball will turn for sure. India and England will face-off in the fourth test at the JSCA Stadium Complex in Ranchi, which will commence on Friday, February 23. Currently, India lead the ongoing five-+match test series 2-1.

Earlier, England’s No. 3 batter Ollie Pope also stated that the Ranchi pitch is completely dry and has cracks on it. However, Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has acknowledged that the ball would spin in Ranchi, but he also felt that it is hard to predict the nature of the pitch which will be used during the fourth test match between India and England.

“In India there is always a conversation about the pitch. This [Ranchi] looks like a typical Indian wicket and seems like it will turn. But ,I am not sure how much it will turn or when it will start to. We have the required balance in our team to deal with any situation,” said Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour on the eve of the match. 

“Having a lot of conversations with him:” Vikram Rathour on Rajat Patidar

The Indian batting coach also expressed his thoughts on young batter Rajat Paitidar. Vikram Rathour hinted that he might hold onto his spot in the Indian middle-order. However, Patidar is having a tough series against England, where he has failed to register a half-century so far.

“We have been having a lot of conversations with him [Patidar]. One thing he has to understand is that this is how this game works. He has been batting really well and scoring a lot of runs to get into the team,” Vikram Rathour said

“Two poor games don’t make him a bad player. He just had two tough games, couple of awkward dismissals, which can happen to anyone. There is absolutely no doubt that he is a good player. On his day, he will come up with an impactful innings,” assured Rathour.

England announce their playing XI for the Ranchi test

Ben Stokes-led England announced their playing XI for the crucial fourth test match against India in Ranchi. The English side have made two big changes to their playing XI.

Pacer Ollie Robinson and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir are set to return to the playing XI. Speedster Mark Wood and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed make their way out of the playing XI for the Ranchi test.

Meanwhile, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is on the verge of creating more history. The left-handed batter will eye the historic milestone of legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who smashed 700 or more runs in a bilateral test series twice in his career.

England’s playing XI for fourth Test

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson, Ollie Robinson

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