India vs England: Experienced batting group hasn’t supported bowlers, says Ajinkya Rahane
Of the seven matches in South Africa and England together, India have bowled out teams twice in six games, but only two have led to victories as batsmen have fallen short.
Starting with the South Africa Test series in January, India have looked a team of two parts – the bowlers pick 20 wickets but the batsmen don’t build on the advantage and force a win.
Of the seven matches in South Africa and England together, India have bowled out teams twice in six games, but only two have led to victories as batsmen have fallen short. Ahead of the final Test against England at the Oval, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted the batting group, barring skipper Virat Kohli, have failed.
“We feel bad as our bowlers bowled so well and we as a batting group could not support them while we are an experienced group,” he told reporters on Thursday. “We as a batting group failed. When you are on tour, you work so hard and prepare so well and then when one department performs well it is the responsibility of the other group to back them.”
KOHLI LONE PERFORMER
Kohli has been on a different plane. In South Africa he topped the series aggregate with 286 runs at an average of 47.66. He tops the table in England too, having amassed 544 runs at an average of 68.
ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar reminds Ravi Shastri of India’s past overseas record
Two senior batsmen are finding their feet, but it has not been enough.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s first innings century and Ajinkya Rahane’s second fifty still left India 60 short in the fourth Test.
“The way Virat conducted himself, the consistency he showed, was amazing. Many people were saying many things about him, whether he will be able to score runs in England, but Virat concentrated on his cricket and that is what we learn from him. As a team mate and captain we learned a lot from him.”
NO EASING OFF
Rahane urged a mindset change while playing abroad. India squandered the advantage in Southampton due to poor lower order batting and R Ashwin’s struggle with the ball, which left too much to do against off-spinner Moeen Ali on a wearing pitch.
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh slams Indian selectors after Asia Cup 2018 team announcement
“While playing in India you know the conditions. Even if you do something wrong in one session you get a chance to correct it in the next and comeback. When you are touring, then you have to give 100% in each and every session – how well you can play in tough situations and capitalise when you are in a commanding position and capture that situation. England did that so well. When they were in tough situation contributions from their number 7-8-9 were so vital.
“Even though we were batting so well, they persisted, showed patience. That is why they are 3-1 up.”
“Patience is the key in England, whether you bat or bowl. You got to bowl in the same areas for a longer period of time. Maybe as a batsman, you have to leave the ball for a longer period of time.”
