It was batting that let team India down against England suggests Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath reckons that the lack of runs from top-order batsmen is what did India over in the recent series loss against England in the ongoing UK tour. Amarnath said that India need to be mentally ready for the fifth Test which could be difficult after the disheartening loss at Southampton.
Team India suffered their 10th consecutive Test loss on English soil after a defeat in the fourth Test which gave the home team a 3-1 lead in the five-match extravaganza. Virat Kohli was the sole Indian batsman to put in consistent performances across the series so far, as the likes of Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and KL Rahul failed to live up to the usual high standards that they’ve displayed on Indian pitches.
And former Indian Test cricketer - Mohinder Amarnath revealed that while the bowlers were outstanding against the hosts, it was the dismal display of the Indian batsman, barring Kohli, that led to their ultimate downfall.
“It was the batting that let India down, and what this showed was that they are not great players of the moving ball. Apart from Virat, and, of course, (Ajinkya) Rahane and (Cheteshwar) Pujara, none of the others looked comfortable even though some of them did get runs.
“It wasn’t like India did not have opportunities. The bowlers did a fantastic job, especially the pacers who bowled their hearts out. At the end of the day, it was the Indian batting that was not up to scratch. Also, we missed a regular No.6. You cannot go in with five batsmen and an all-rounder, especially in England. They could be very handy in the subcontinent, but overseas they get exposed,” Amarnath wrote in his column for TOI.
But with respect to batting, the English batsmen too weren’t all that great as far as runs were concerned. Although all-rounder Sam Curran was their surprise package in their series win, the old horses like Alastair Cook, Ben Stokes, and even Joe Root did not really pack a punch across all four matches.
“Technique was probably why the batting let us down. A lot of the boys got a start but just could not convert because of lack of application, temperament, and rhythm. Virat has shown this right through the series. Of course, one can say the English batsmen also didn’t score runs, but they have won the series,” Amarnath added.
With one more game left to play in the series, Amarnath revealed that Ravi Shastri's boys need to be mentally strong and attempt to win the fifth match at the Oval.
“The last Test at the Oval will be challenging. Once you have lost the series, a lot of things play on your mind. Many have not scored runs and they’ll be under pressure with the home season looming. It’ll be a big test of character for them to come
