Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja feels India can go on to “brownwash” England in the ongoing Test series if it wins the second match of the series starting November 23 in Mumbai.
India have taken a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the opening Test in Ahmedabad by nine wickets yesterday. Rameez felt the wicket will turn even more in Mumbai and this would work to the home team’s advantage.
“If England lose in Mumbai then India will have the clear edge. India will then have the excellent opportunity to go for a 4-0 result, which can be called a ‘brownwash’,” Rameez told PTI-Bhasha.
“India can win all the four matches and I feel the wicket will turn more in Mumbai. India definitely have the upperhand but England have shown the stomach for fight and the series would be an intersting one,” he said.
India were humiliated 0-4 by England in an away series last year and winning at home would be sweet revenge for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men. “England’s bowling seems weak given the pitches here. Indians, on the other hand, are masters of spin,” Rameez explained.
Rameez praised young Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 206 and 41 in the Ahmedabad Test to win the man of the match award. “Pujara played a fine innings. England may be technically weaker but are a mentally strong unit. I feel to score over 200 against a team like that is the hallmark of a confident batsman,” he said.
But Rameez felt Pujara should not be compared to Rahul Dravid just yet. “To compare him to Dravid is going a bit too far. Dravid has himself told me that he was not as confident when he was Pujara’s age,” he said.
