IND vs ENG LIVE – Where is Indian Middle Order? The form of India’s big 3 Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s by the day is becoming a big worry for Indian cricket. Ongoing India vs England second Test at Lord’s has further exposed chinks in the armor of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and skipper Virat Kohli. The trio has failed to live up to expectations in the last few innings.
IND vs ENG LIVE: Where is India’s middle-order, India’s big 3 Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s struggling big time
IND vs ENG LIVE – Where is Indian Middle Order? The form of India’s batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, in particular, have become a big hurdle in India’s aim to win Test series in England after 13 years. The duo got out on single digits. Meanwhile, Kohli has failed to score a fifty in the last 6 innings. Adding to this, his last century came in November 2019.
The legendary Indian opener meanwhile is questioning the the role and input of the support staff in improving players’ technical deficiencies, said, “If Rahane does not score, there is cause for concern, but that cause for concern has to be regarding his technical abilities. With Pujara too; the way he has been out playing down the wrong line, being beaten by the outswinger, nothing has changed. Who is the one to take care of it? Not just Pujara or Rahane. There’s a staff there. If you are getting out in the same manner, there is something wrong not just with your technique, but also guys who are supposed to help you,” Gavaskar questioned while speaking on Sony Sports Network.
IND vs ENG: India’s big 3 Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s form a big worry for India- stats attack
If we delve deep, the stats of the three top batsmen has been a big concern for India in the last few Tests- check out:
Ajinkya Rahane
Middle-order batsmen Ajinkya Rahane has hit a lean patch. He is yet to score a fifty in the last 7 innings. His scorecard in last 10 inns read: 1, 5, 15, 49, 27, 7, 10, 67, 0 and 1. He had smashed his last century 11 Tests ago against Australia in Melbourne last year.
Ajinkya Rahane in England:
2021- 1, 5
In 2018- 37, 0, 51, 11, 29, 81, 13, 18, 2, 15
Runs- 626
Matches– 13 (24 inns)
Average: 28.45
100-1
50s-4
Home/ Away records
| Venue | Inns | NO | 100s | 50s | 0s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R | Ca | St |
| Home | 48 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 188 | 1605 | 36.48 | 48.99 | 34 | 0 |
| Away | 79 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 147 | 3048 | 43.54 | 49.87 | 43 | 0 |
| Overall | 127 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 8 | 188 | 4653 | 40.82 | 49.56 | 97 | 0 |
Also Read: IND vs ENG 2nd Test LIVE: Ajinkya Rahane’s poor show continues, departs for just 1 run
Cheteshwar Pujara
India’s No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara’s recent form has raised questions over his place in India’s playing XI. Like Rahane, Pujara has embarrassed India in his last innings. His dismissal for just 9 runs in the 2nd Test meant Pujara is yet to score a half-century in the last 10 innings (5 Tests. His scorecards read: 9, 12*, 4, 15, 8, 17, 0, 7, 21, 15, 73. The right-handed batsman is yet to score a century since January 2019.
Cheteshwar Pujara in England
2021- 9, 4, 12*
In 2018- 0, 37, 5, 132*, 72, 14, 17, 1,
In 2014- 11, 4, 17, 0, 2, 24, 43, 28, 55, 38
Runs- 548
Matches– 12 (23 inns)
Average: 26.10
Home/ Away records
| Venue | Inns | NO | 100s | 50s | 0s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R | Ca | St |
| Home | 70 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 206* | 3604 | 56.31 | 50.13 | 22 | 0 |
| Away | 77 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 193 | 2688 | 36.32 | 38.96 | 28 | 0 |
| Overall | 147 | 9 | 18 | 29 | 9 | 206* | 6292 | 45.59 | 44.66 | 58 | 0 |
Also Read: Ind VS Eng live: Pujara’s horror run continues, this time dismissed for just 9
Virat Kohli
India captain Virat Kohli is known to play some of the most remarkable innings across all formats in the last 10 years but his ongoing form has been unimpressive. He started the series with a duck but he had impressed with 42 runs off 103 balls. However, he failed to score big despite settling at the crease for an amorous time. He is yet to score a century since 630 days. Besides this, he is unable to score a half-century in the last 6 innings.
Virat Kohli in England
2021- 42, 0
In 2018- 0, 49, 58, 46, 103, 97, 17, 23, 51, 149
In 2014- 20, 6, 7, 0, 28, 39, 0, 25, 8, 1
Runs- 826
Matches– 13 (24 inns)
Average: 34.42
| Venue | Inns | NO | 100s | 50s | 0s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R | Ca | St |
| Home | 66 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 254* | 3730 | 64.31 | 60.05 | 34 | 0 |
| Away | 91 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 200 | 3859 | 43.36 | 53.86 | 45 | 0 |
| Overall | 157 | 10 | 27 | 25 | 13 | 254* | 7589 | 51.63 | 56.73 | 90 | 0 |
The above stats show there is a huge inconsistency for India in the middle order. It’s the prime reason why India has won only three-Test series in England. The middle-order need to pull up their shocks if they ensure India wins the opening game and ongoing test series.
India in England 2018
Lost Test series 1-4
India in England 2014
Lost Test series 1-3 (1 match ended in draw)
India in England 2014
Whitewashed 0-4
IND vs ENG LIVE: Put together, India has managed to win just 2 Test matches out of the last 14 Tests in England. If the pattern continues, India would be heading for their 4th straight Test series loss in England.
According to Gavaskar, Pujara and Rahane are low-profile players, their heads will be on the chopping block faster. “They are not going to take their shirt off and create a scene (if they are dropped),” the former Indian captain declared as his parting shot.
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