Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS) Legendary Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram says India, after their emphatic win in the opening game, will only get better in the ODI series but they must open batting with Gautam Gambhir.

India defeated England by massive 126 runs in Hyderabad Friday with Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel opening the batting.

Akram believes Gambhir should return to the top.

“As a bowler, you would enjoy bowling to a hit-and-miss kind of batsman because you know sooner rather than later you will be able to get the better of him. But Gambhir is one player who plays proper strokes and with his ability, he can win you matches on his own if he bats the 50 overs,” Akram was quoted as saying in espnstar.

“I think the team management sees that Gambhir’s future in the playing XI is at number three, but I would have definitely played him as an opener.”

Akram said India have announced a strong comeback with their win in first of the five ODI series.

“India will only get better and better with each game. They have announced a strong comeback with this win. Even though the big players were missing, they looked like a team that gels well. Everything was working for them, they looked very good yesterday, the bowling changes, their effort on the field, everybody chipped in and they looked a confident side,” he said.

The former Pakistan skipper found England team’s body language negative in the Friday’s match and said they will miss their bowling spearheads James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“I felt their body language was not positive at all. Pietersen was looking iffy in the middle. He got hit on the finger too. His body language showed that England had already given up the chase after just 10 overs. On such turning and tricky wickets, you must have a positive body language, otherwise you have no chance of winning matches,” he said.

“England will definitely miss Anderson and Broad because those guys were crucial to England’s dominance at home. In the sub-continent, the bowlers who have not played here before will struggle. England’s true test was always going to be in India and if their bowlers continue to give away 300 runs, I do not think India will give them a chance.”