India came into the series against England looking to reaffirm their status as the number one side in the world. But now as they are positioned in an abyss, MS Dhoni and company are 0-2 down in a 4-Test match series, which means they cannot win the series. We take a look at the top 5 reasons why India have found themselves in such a disastrous position.
REASON 1:
Arguably the biggest reason for the two losses is India being one bowler less in both Tests.
Zaheer Khan took 2 wickets in the 13.3 overs he bowled on the first day of the series but since then has been recuperating from a hamstring injury. Ishant and Praveen were forced to bowl 114 overs between them due to Zaheer's absence.
Harbhajan Singh's poor form and a stomach strain that saw him bowl only 9 overs in the 2nd innings at Trent Bridge didn't help either
REASON 2:
The number 2 reason for England going 2-0 up in the series is India missing their star opening pair - Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
While Sehwag was not available for the first 2 Tests due to his shoulder injury, the problem increased manifold when Gambhir was injured in the first Test. He had to skip the second Test but will be back for the third.
REASON 3:
At number 3 is the poor form of two very crucial Indian cogs MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.
Dhoni was so poor that he only managed 49 runs in 4 innings at an average of 12. In comparison Matt Prior, the English wicketkeeper, is the 3rd highest run getter of the series with 248 runs at an average of 82.
Sachin, on the other hand, scored 56 runs in the final innings of the 2nd Test and that's the only reason he could muster up a total of 118. But his average of 29 is still well below what's expected of the best batsman in the world.
REASON 4:
At number 4 is India's inability to go for the jugular. At Lord's England were 62 for 5 but they went on to declare at 269 for 6 with Matt Prior scoring a century.
In the 2nd innings India were well on course to pulling off a draw at 131 for 2. Inexplicably, India lost 8 wickets for 130 runs.
India took their foot off the pedal in the 2nd Test too. With the hosts at 124/8, India let Stuart Broad smash 64 off 66 to help England to 221.
And then Broad's hat-trick spoiled the good work of Rahul Dravid's century as India went from 267 for 4 to 288 all out, losing 6 wickets for just 21 runs.
REASON 5:
England's bowlers have been the real gamechangers for their side. The short ball was key to India's demise in the Trent Bridge Test. Ten Indian wickets fell in just over two sessions on the 4th day as one of the world's strongest batting lineups was bowled out for 158.
REASON 1:
Arguably the biggest reason for the two losses is India being one bowler less in both Tests.
Zaheer Khan took 2 wickets in the 13.3 overs he bowled on the first day of the series but since then has been recuperating from a hamstring injury. Ishant and Praveen were forced to bowl 114 overs between them due to Zaheer's absence.
Harbhajan Singh's poor form and a stomach strain that saw him bowl only 9 overs in the 2nd innings at Trent Bridge didn't help either
REASON 2:
The number 2 reason for England going 2-0 up in the series is India missing their star opening pair - Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
While Sehwag was not available for the first 2 Tests due to his shoulder injury, the problem increased manifold when Gambhir was injured in the first Test. He had to skip the second Test but will be back for the third.
REASON 3:
At number 3 is the poor form of two very crucial Indian cogs MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.
Dhoni was so poor that he only managed 49 runs in 4 innings at an average of 12. In comparison Matt Prior, the English wicketkeeper, is the 3rd highest run getter of the series with 248 runs at an average of 82.
Sachin, on the other hand, scored 56 runs in the final innings of the 2nd Test and that's the only reason he could muster up a total of 118. But his average of 29 is still well below what's expected of the best batsman in the world.
REASON 4:
At number 4 is India's inability to go for the jugular. At Lord's England were 62 for 5 but they went on to declare at 269 for 6 with Matt Prior scoring a century.
In the 2nd innings India were well on course to pulling off a draw at 131 for 2. Inexplicably, India lost 8 wickets for 130 runs.
India took their foot off the pedal in the 2nd Test too. With the hosts at 124/8, India let Stuart Broad smash 64 off 66 to help England to 221.
And then Broad's hat-trick spoiled the good work of Rahul Dravid's century as India went from 267 for 4 to 288 all out, losing 6 wickets for just 21 runs.
REASON 5:
England's bowlers have been the real gamechangers for their side. The short ball was key to India's demise in the Trent Bridge Test. Ten Indian wickets fell in just over two sessions on the 4th day as one of the world's strongest batting lineups was bowled out for 158.
England pacers have taken 38 wickets in comparison to Indian fast bowlers' 29 wickets.
