England vs India 2018: 3 team selection blunders committed by India

India's long summer on English soil started on a positive note as Virat Kohli's men won the T20I series, and then registered a thumping victory in the first ODI. However, that has been the end of good memories as Joe Root & Co. decided to turn on the English sweet chin music.

After sealing the ODI series 2-1, they have got the upper hand in the 5-match Test series. The Three Lions, banking on an exquisite display of swing bowling which was comprised of both experience and exuberance, defeated the visitors by a slim margin of 31 runs.

The common opinion amongst the Indian cricket enthusiasts is that team selection blunders cost the team dearly. Let us have a look at three such team selection blunders:

---

#3 KL Rahul instead of Cheteshwar Pujara

Rahul failed to perform in both the innings

Before the match, it seemed that number 3 of the Indian batting order belongs to only one person - Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara's form has been on the downslope recently, but he is coming off fresh after a county stint, which might have made him more accustomed to the challenging English conditions than any other batsman in the Indian team.

But Kohli shocked everyone when he announced the playing XI. The Test specialist was overlooked to accommodate a batsman with what is considered a more 'positive' intent, KL Rahul. That dosage of positiveness backfired, as in two innings, Rahul could only stand in the crease for 26 deliveries, collecting 17 runs from them.

Pujara, with all the criticism he has received recently for his poor run of form, provides stern resilience and a will to not throw his wicket away, something the Indian batting order is lacking at the moment.

#2 Ajinkya Rahane's selection

Ajinkya Rahane's poor run of form is a major concern for the Indian team

Unlike some other batters of the team, coach Ravi Shastri has no concern about Ajinkya Rahane's batting technique. The man with a gifted technique and commendable temperament is now fighting his demons as his career has gone haywire in the recent past. Rahane has an average of 42 in Tests, but it drops to 36 if we consider his last two years' tally.

His numbers of last 12 months are scarier as his average drops down to a horrifying low of 10. In his last 7 Test matches, which involved comparatively weaker sides like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, Rahane failed to score a half-century. Against England, he could only manage 17 runs and is now under major scrutiny. The Indian bench features two exciting alternatives in Rishabh Pant, who is in a sublime form, and Karun Nair, who has a staggering average of 160 against England in Tests.

#1 Prolonged faith on Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan's technique has been on the receiving end of criticism

India are considered to possess the best top-order in limited overs cricket, but the scenario is completely different in the longest format of the game. Shikhar Dhawan's technique has been receiving some glaring questions and perhaps it is time to look for a new opener. Dhawan had a horrendous T20I series but made a good comeback in the ODIs.

In the Edgbaston Test, he amassed 39 runs. While that might not be too bad considering the telephonic scorecard, the way he got out in both the innings has earned him some harsh words. He has an average of over 40 in Tests, but credit goes to his tremendous numbers against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for that.

Against England, that number drops down to 20 as he is yet to reach the 40-run mark against the Three Lions. Fans want Shastri and Kohli to drop what they are calling the 'burden' of the team, and it is now up to the decision makers to take the final call. Perhaps, it is time to drop the experienced left-hander and invest equal faith in the youngster, Rishabh Pant. Pant is going through a purple patch and had a great time in England playing for Rahul Dravid's India A.