Birmingham: Former England pacer Darren Gough feels India have enough firepower in their pace attack to cover for the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test beginning here, Wednesday.
Gough spoke about the different options available in front of skipper Virat Kohli in both pace and spin departments, and remarked that India’s well-rounded attack is suitable for any pitch that is laid out in this ensuing series, despite missing Bhuvi for three Tests and Bumrah for the series opener.
Virat is a great ODI batsman. If Kohli wants to be counted in the same league as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, he has to score in England and Australia
Darren Gough
“Bhuvi is a big loss and he wasn’t at his best during the ODI series because he was carrying an injury. But India aren’t a side anymore that is dependent on one bowler. Earlier, they were dependent on Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath or Zaheer Khan, that is no longer the case. India are suited for all sorts of wickets, and they look prepared and geared up for this Test series,” Gough told this agency.
“Today, you have to be on top of your game to beat India, whether you are playing at home or away because they posses everything in their bowling attack. Kumar gives you swing.
“Bumrah is a skidding seam bowler, Umesh Yadav can move the new ball as well and he has got pace, Mohammed Shami is strong and hits the deck hard, while Ishant Sharma has experience, aggression and he can bowl lots of overs,” asserted the former English paceman.