IND vs ENG 2021: 3 reasons why India should have played a warm-up match ahead of the 3rd Test
Cricket
Nothing really comes out of the simulation games and while they serve as good practice, India would have been better off playing a quality county side to help maintain their competitive edge. It would have also helped them understand how English players operate in their home conditions.
Would have been better than intra-squad games
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The match against Select County XI helped the Indian contingent to acclimatize. Maybe another quick three-day practice scrimmage would have helped their case.
Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin could get a game if one of the members of the current squad has an injury or if the think-tank decides to ring in some changes.
India's bench could have got a good workout
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It could have been beneficial for these players to get some competitive game time so they can remain match-ready if at all the team requires them at any point in the series.
Barring their gritty second innings performances, India's No.3 and its vice-captain have been in a major form slump. Perhaps an outing against a county side would have given them some much-needed time in the middle to work on their flaws.
A chance for the likes of Pujara and Rahane to get a good knock
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Both batsmen, along with skipper Virat Kohli, have been found lacking and inconsistent when it comes to churning out runs, and a warm-up game could have really helped them iron out the chinks.