Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden predicts that India will win the ongoing Test series against England, especially after their commanding 434-run victory in the third Test in Rajkot, giving them a 2-1 lead.
India’s 434-run victory in the third Test against England in Rajkot stands as their largest win by runs in Test history. Hayden believes that such a defeat would be mentally challenging for any touring team to recover from.
It’s a battle of energy and conservation of that resource- Matthew Hayden
Speaking to Star Sports, Matthew Hayden explained that playing against India in their own country requires a tremendous amount of energy from any visiting side. Hayden said,
“I think it’s India all the way (result of the series). I was looking at the result this morning and thought that India, as a touring side, is a challenge for this reason. It’s a battle of energy and conservation of that resource which is very limited.”
England seemed to be in a strong position at the end of play on Day 2, having amassed 207/2 on the board in just 35 overs. However, a remarkable turnaround saw the hosts seize a first-innings lead of 126 runs and then dominate with the bat to secure victory within four days.
The game, the spectators, and the country just keep coming at you- Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden also discussed the challenging atmosphere created by the Indian crowd for visiting teams like England and Australia, particularly when the hosts are dominating and winning matches. He emphasized the importance of remaining composed as a visiting team in such situations.
“The game, the spectators and the country just keeps coming at you. There’s this great energy in India, especially in winning against England, and you can put Australia on that list as well especially now. You have to be a guru and have to have a mindset of stillness just to be able to survive mentally there,”
Hayden added that England has shown the ability to take the lead in games but struggles to maintain it due to the relentless pressure of needing to perform consistently in every moment. He said,
“You have already seen England this series get in front of games, but not be able to sustain it. And it is because of the relentless nature of having to turn up every moment, every ball, every session,”
The fourth Test in Ranchi, starting on Friday, February 23, will be a true test of England’s Bazball approach following heavy scrutiny following their comprehensive loss.
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