IND vs ENG LIVE 3rd Test – Kohli, Rahane, Pujara flops: The famed Indian top-order once again came a cropper as Test specialists Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara failed to score runs and India skipper Virat Kohli continued to be James Anderson’s bunny.
Apart from Rohit Sharma, the rest of the top-order failed to counter the swing of the England bowlers as India lost four wickets for just 58 runs on board.
IND vs ENG Live Score, 3rd Test: India in deep trouble
IND vs ENG LIVE: Indian middle order flops big time, Kohli, Pujara, Rahane continues to derail India with their shoddy performance
IND vs ENG LIVE 3rd Test – Kohli, Rahane, Pujara flops: While Lord’s centurion KL Rahul was lured into an ambitious drive by James Anderson, the likes of Pujara, Kohli and Rahane looked vulnerable during their stay at the crease.
Pujara lasted for 19 minutes, faced nine balls and scored just one run while Kohli spent 31 minutes, played 17 deliveries and scored seven runs. India’s vice-captain Rahane did spent quality time (65 minutes) and faced 54 deliveries but failed to convert his start as he fell for 18 just at the stroke of Lunch.
The averages aren’t great as since January Pujara averages 25.09, Kohli 24.18 and Rahane 25.76. What’s more startling is the fact that it’s more than 20 Tests that Pujara has scored a century and Rahane’s century was the brilliant 112 in Melbourne against Australia. But the recent performances in England has put Rahane and Pujara in a tight spot. The skipper is also not among the runs and the manner of dismissals will hurt the famed batting trio.
IND vs ENG LIVE 3rd Test – Kohli, Rahane, Pujara flops: The ghosts of 2014 series are back to haunt Kohli as Anderson has caught the Indian skipper fishing outside the off-stump and Kohli’s tendency to poke at deliveries outside the channel has cost India dearly. Pujara and Rahane did forge a match-winning stand in the second Test and looked to be back into form. But that’s clearly not the case.
First Test: Cheteshwar Pujara 4 & 12* | Virat Kohli 0 & DNB | Ajinkya Rahane 5 & DNB
Second Test: Cheteshwar Pujara 9 & 45 | Virat Kohli 42 & 20 | Ajinkya Rahane 1 & 62
Third Test: Cheteshwar Pujara 1 & – | Virat Kohli 7 & – | Ajinkya Rahane 18 & –
Having taken a 1-0 series lead, India has an opportunity to continue the winning momentum and eye a historic series win. For that to happen, the famed trio of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane must fire in unison.
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