New Delhi, August 1: Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and renowned commentator Deep Dasgupta has voiced his concerns regarding the Indian batting lineup ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He emphasized that the spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka will pose a significant challenge for the Indian batsmen.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Dasgupta stated, “Having observed the Indian batting against South Africa, I wouldn’t say I’m scared, but I am concerned. How will they perform in those conditions? The pitches will favor spinners, which is Sri Lanka’s strength. How will the Indian batsmen cope? This is likely to be the biggest challenge.”
He added, “I’m not as worried about the bowling. We have Washington Sundar, Saransh Jain, and Kuldeep Yadav in the spin department. The batting is the real concern. We can look back at the series against South Africa and New Zealand.”
Dasgupta noted, “If the pitches are good for bowling, quality bowlers will emerge. Saransh has also joined the squad; he is a competent off-spinner with extensive first-class experience and can bat well. However, in a Test match, he might not need to bat as much.”
The former wicketkeeper cautioned against underestimating the opposition. “No Test series is easy. The Indian Test team is undergoing changes, so every Test match will be challenging.”
Regarding India’s position in the World Test Championship rankings, Dasgupta remarked, “I believe there are nine Test matches left. This includes five against Australia, two against Sri Lanka, and two against New Zealand. India must win at least seven matches to qualify for the finals. This is a tough task.”
On the increasing pressure on captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, he said, “Gambhir will face questions. When the team underperforms, various questions will arise. The captain will also be scrutinized, especially after losses at home to South Africa and New Zealand.”
Dasgupta mentioned that the team management is discussing changes. “During a period of transition, it’s crucial to have a clear direction. If changes began after the New Zealand Test series, followed by the England series, we need to ensure we are moving in a coherent direction. I’m a bit confused about which way we are heading.”
The two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to take place from August 15 to August 27.
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