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Former England spinner and analyst Monty Panesar has stated that Team India, led by Shubman Gill, will have a good chance of winning the Manchester Test and level the series 2-2 if they can focus on the basics and use the strength of the surface to their advantage.
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It’s important to note that India is trailing the series by 1-2 with two more games to go. The Shubman Gill-led side is coming into this game after a narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s. Earlier, they suffered a five-wicket defeat in Leeds and later bagged a 336-run win in Birmingham.
Speaking to IANS in an exclusive interview, Panesar asserted that the surface in Manchester will offer good pace and bounce and can emerge as the fastest pitch of the series so far. He added that the bowlers with bad balls will be punished.
“I think India's got a very good chance of doing well in the next Test match. The pitch will have everything to offer but it's about application and if they can do that, they will have a good chance of winning,” Panesar told IANS in an exclusive interview.
“It's going to be a good batting and bowling wicket, with the spinners getting something later on. There will be everything on offer for everyone. If you bowl badly, you'll be punished. While batting there will be pace and bounce, it will be the fastest pitch of the series so far. The bowlers will have to work hard to take wickets, and the batters will not be able to play loose shots and get away with it,” he added.
Speaking about India’s Test performance at Old Trafford in Manchester, both these sides locked horns on nine occasions with England bagging four wins and five encounters ended in a draw. The last match between these two sides came in 2014 when India lost the game by an innings and 54 runs under the leadership of MS Dhoni.
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