After a tremendous victory at Lords, India was playing catch-up cricket in the 3rd test match after being 56-4 at lunch on Day 1 with the entire middle order (No.3,4 & 5) back in the pavilion. India eventually lost by an innings & 76 runs to England.
Cheteshwar Pujara(162 runs @32.4), Virat Kohli (124 runs @ 24.8) & Ajinkya Rahane( 95 runs @19.00) have a total contribution of 381 runs in 16 innings, which is a huge problem for the Indian team, especially playing with 4 pace bowlers who are not genuine all-rounders. Although they are contributing well with the bat, you can’t expect the same from them in every match.
At the time of writing, Joe Root individually has made more than 500 runs – you would normally expect the 3 of the Indian batsman put together to score more than that. This lack of form in the Indian middle-order is not only a concern in the current series only but also has been there for a good part of 2 years.
In this analysis, we look at the contribution of these 3 important players from the time Virat Kohli took over India’s captaincy after MS Dhoni retired from the Test scenario. We will be breaking it down into 2 parts: from 2015 to Jan 2019 where India won a series for the first time Down Under.
It is also notable the last time Pujara crossed the three-figure mark. We also have a glance at what possible changes can the team make to better handle this situation.
The 3 players have been the backbone of the India test batting line-up for years. The trio of a rock-solid Pujara, the run machine Kohli and the man for the crisis Rahane, have performed consistently well home and away. Indian team has struggled to find a good opening combination, and the middle order has given them the strength to succeed in the test arena as India has won the test mace 5 times continuously ( 2017,18,19,20,21).
Break Down of Performances After Jan 2019
Pujara– An average drop of 26 ( 54 to 28 ), the modern wall of the Indian team has struggled to score big runs in the last 2 years. He has no century to his name in this time period. He has surely played out the new ball and occupied the crease, allowing the other batsman to score runs.
In 36 innings he has crossed the 50 mark – 10 times, 3.6 innings per 50 + score. This innings per 50 plus score ratio was 2.5 before that period. A big inning from Pujara ensured a big score from this Indian side.
Kohli- An average drop of 21 ( 60 to 39), the run machine of the team has gone a long time without a century not only in the test format but also overall. In 29 innings he has crossed the 50 mark- 8 times, a ratio of 3.6 innings per 50 + score. This ratio was at 2.84 before that period. Kohli in his purple batch was used to scoring 2-3 centuries in a series. He is struggling for one century for a couple of years. Not only this has an impact on the team’s score but also Kohli led by example. This does have an impact on the team atmosphere.
Rahane – The no.5 batsman has an average increase of 0.11 ( 39.07 to 39.19 ). Also, he has improved his innings per 50 + score ratio from 4.1 to 3.5 in this period. Statistically, he has gained more form in the last 2 years, and also scored one of the most important 100’s at MCG in the boxing day test match after India were bundled out for 36 in the previous match and Kohli had to go home for family reasons. He played a captain’s knock when it was much needed.
India has won 13 matches, lost 6, and drawn 2 in this time frame. In matches won by India, Pujara has scored 514 runs @ 25.70, Kohli has scored 740 runs @52.85 and Rahane has scored 997 runs @ 58.64. Rahane is only behind Rohit Shamra in terms of runs in matches won. Rohit has 1038 runs @74.14.
Of the 3 batsmen, Rahane has contributed the most, Pujara and Kohli have seen a dip in form. But interestingly as mentioned Rahane has an innings per 50+ score ratio at 3.5, whereas both Pujara and Kohli though with a dip in form have a ratio of 3.6.
In a test match to post a good score, you require contribution from at least 2 of your 3 middle-order batsmen. If everyone contributes well chances of a high score increase, but the other scenario of all of them failing are high chances of a collapse of the entire batting order which has been observed 3 -4 times in the last 7-8 months itself from the Indian team. The 36 all-out in Australia, the 78 all-out in England, and few others.
As seen in the graph, lately there is a lack of overall contribution of the 3 players. Since 2020, when India toured New Zealand, in the 11 matches ( where Pujara, Rahane, and Kohli have played together), 9 times only 1 of them got 20 or more runs, 4 times none of them got 20 runs even. Only 2 times in 11 matches they all have been able to get more than 20 runs individually. This is a problem as there is a lack of partnerships in the middle, and even if the openers give a very good start, India is not able to capitalize on the same.
Overall Scenario
India has been fortunate that Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja have all been in good form in the last 2 years. Rohit has 1324 runs @ 57.56, Pant has 794 runs @34.52 and Jadeja has 633 runs @42.20. One of the opening batsman and the lower middle order contributing, has kept India in most of the matches along with the exceptional bowling attach which India possesses at the moment.
India’s bench strength had been tested in Australia, and some good players are waiting for their opportunities. In the current squad for the England Tour, India have good batting options, the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, and Surya Kumar Yadav can bat in the middle order and given India the much-needed change.
Vihari has a Test average of 32.84 and a First-Class average of 55 after 94 matches, Agarwal has a test average of 45.73 and a First Class Average of 45.72 after 69 matches. Surya Kumar Yadav has not made his test debut but has an average of 44 after 77 first-class matches. All the 3 players have good experience in domestic cricket. Other batting options are Prithvi Shaw, Wriddhiman Saha, and Abhimanu Easwaran.
Possible team changes
A rest might do wonders for Rahane and give him time to think and analyze his game. The overall team balance can also see a change. Ishan Sharma looked rusty in the last match and Jadeja has some injury concerns. Rishabh Pant too has not performed in the ongoing series, but has been a consistent performer in the last 2 years and can change the game scenario in 1 hour of his batting. India will most surely back Rishabh Pant and can make 3 changes going into the next match, bringing in Shardul Thakur in place of Sharma, Ashwin in place of Jadeja and the most important change can be Vihari in place of Rahane. Agarwal and Yadav both have had good first-class experience and records. But Vihara has the mental strength and prior performance, the Sydney Heist along with Ashwin.
Conclusion
The series level at 1-1, with the psychological advantage being with England after beating India by an innings, India will need experience and their identity of coming back into a series to take the trophy home. A team will want their most experienced players in one of the most difficult conditions. But the current form and the baggage of all the mistakes made in the last 5-10 innings call for a change in the middle order. Statistically, Rahane has been the best among the 3 batsmen in the last 2 years but has only scored 95 runs in 5 innings in this series. Also, he has not looked confident at the crease. Pujara played a patient knock in the last match and Kohli too looked like he was batting in 2018 when he had a successful series as a batsman.
It will be yet another tough outing for the Indian batting line-up, especially the middle order when they take the field on 2nd September. India would want a decent performance from Pujara, Kohli, and possible Vihari to give them a good chance.