5 factors that are necessary for Team India to emulate their home success in overseas conditions

#5: Not being able to grasp the opportunities that come their way

India have let the opposition run away with the game after being in a commanding position on numerous occasions away from home

Another problem plaguing the Indian team in their overseas assignments is that they often lose control when they are on top in the game and allow the opposition to dominate the proceedings. This has hampered the momentum on various occasions, thus making it difficult to stage a comeback in the game again. Here are the few instances when India let the game drift away.

(1) Against South Africa, Johannesburg, 2013

After setting South Africa a huge target of 458, India had reduced them to 197/4 with more than 75 overs still left to play. But, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis combined together to build a partnership of 205 runs in 62.3 overs. The target was brought down to just 56 runs in 13 overs with six wickets in hand. India managed to hold on to a draw with three quick wickets, with South Africa just eight runs away from the victory target.

(2) Against New Zealand, Auckland, 2014

Chasing a huge score of 407, India reached 222/2 as Shikhar Dhawan scored a hundred while Virat Kohli scored a fifty. But, wickets fell in quick succession and India were all out for 366, thereby losing the Test by 40 runs.

(3) Against New Zealand, Wellington, 2014

India got a huge lead of 246 runs in the first innings with Ajinkya Rahane getting his maiden Test ton and Shikhar Dhawan scoring 98. New Zealand were reduced to 94/5 in the second innings. India let the match slip away with poor fielding as Brendon McCullum was dropped on 9 and then again on 36 by Kohli and Ishant Sharma, respectively. He went on to score 302 runs, combining well with BJ Watling and James Neesham in the partnerships of 352 and 179 respectively, taking New Zealand to 680/8 d. Set 435 for victory, India held on to a draw with Kohli getting a century.

(4) Against Australia, Adelaide, 2014

Chasing 364 for victory, India were in a great position at 242/2. Murali Vijay and Kohli scored 99 and 141, respectively. But, Nathan Lyon picked up a seven-wicket haul as India lost eight wickets for just 73 runs in the final session, losing the match by 48 runs. The match should at least have been saved, if not won.

(5) Against Sri Lanka, Galle, 2015

India got a big lead of 192, with Dhawan and Kohli scoring centuries. Sri Lanka were reduced to 95/5 in the second innings. Dinesh Chandimal played a counter-attacking knock of 162 to set India a target of 176 runs. Rangana Herath then bowled a great spell, picking a seven-wicket haul. as India could score just 112 runs in the second innings to lose the Test by 63 runs.