India are staring at defeat in the fifth and final Test of the series as England edge closer to a commanding win, powered by a brilliant stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook. With less than 100 runs needed and Brook having already smashed a century, pressure has mounted on the visitors, who must win to level the series 2-2. As the game began slipping from India’s grasp, former captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar delivered a blunt assessment of the situation in response to Harsha Bhogle’s analogy. Bhogle had likened the series to a tennis match, saying, “Overall, if you add up all the games, it’s a bit like that — one team has won more games, the other more sets.”
Gavaskar, however, didn’t hold back in his response. “You could say that, but at the end of the day, it’s the result that matters. Unless India win this game and level the series, you have to admit that England are the better team. It doesn’t matter how many sessions you’ve won,” said Gavaskar while speaking on Sony Sports Network. He did concede that a 2-2 scoreline would reflect the competitiveness of the series. “Yes, 2-2 would be a fair result given India have won more sessions overall,” Gavaskar added. But with Root and Brook firmly in control, and the target now within touching distance, India’s hopes of a leveller are rapidly fading.
Poll
Will India manage to level the series to 2-2?
Brook made Siraj’s costly error while he was on 19 runs count, after the batter escaped. He raced to his century in just 91 balls, and with Joe Root also well on his way to another ton, things are looking bleak for the visitors.
