India vs England 2016: 5 causes of concern for Team India after the first test

#4 Middle order needs to perform more consistently

A dejected Ajinkya Rahane walks off after being dismissed by Zafar Ansari (Courtesy: Bcci.tv)

Throughout the series against New Zealand, which India won comfortably 3-0, except in the third test match, there were middle order collapses that occurred quite frequently for the home team.

And the trend continued at Rajkot, as India, in the first innings lost 5 wickets for just 148 runs, falling to 425/7 from being 277/2 at one stage, on what seemed to be a decent batting track. If not for some rearguard action by R Ashwin, Team India might have conceded a much bigger first innings lead to the visitors.

In the second innings, again, albeit on a deteriorating day five track, Team India were left in a precarious position as the middle order failed to click again, leaving them at 132 for 6 with the match on the line and if not for captain Virat Kohli and hometown boy Ravindra Jadeja, the result might have been much different.

Indian middle order is studded with star batsmen like Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and captain Kohli himself, and if India are to continue dominating the test match scene, the middle order needs to perform more consistently and these mini-collapses need to be avoided.