Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on India’s crucial second Test against England, urging Shubman Gill and his men to adopt a more positive approach. India succumbed to a five-wicket loss in the first Test despite remaining on top for much of the Test. The defeat has put India 0-1 down early in the series. The second Test match between India and England will begin on Wednesday at Edgbaston.
"The most important thing for India is to throw the counter punch almost immediately," Shastri told The ICC Review.
"When you lose a Test match like this where you have dominated most of it and then you lose it on the last day with a big chase and full marks to England for keeping their composure and doing that, it will need a lot of character to come to the fore and to bounce back in the series.
It is still unclear whether Jasprit Bumrah will play the second Test or not following his workload. Meanwhile, India are also mulling whether to pair a second spinner with veteran Ravindra Jadeja. For Shastri, team selection is not a concern. He wants team India to play positively.
"Now, whether Bumrah plays or doesn't play, one doesn't know. But let's hope he does because this is a very important Test match and all is not lost.
"It's just you take it one game at a time. It's a five-match series and India will be hoping to bounce back."
Shastri wants Shubman Gill, who is leading India for the first time in Test cricket, to be more proactive.
"People say he was a little reactive and it can happen when you're playing your first Test match (as captain) and especially in such good batting conditions with a fast outfield and things can happen in that way,".
"But he would have learnt a lot from that and will want to be a little more proactive when it comes now, which means the bowlers and the fielders will have to give him that support. They have got to know what their role is and get out there and execute it," Shastri said.