10 characteristics of a champion team that India lack at present

4. The ability to seize the day – The Killer instinct

Sam Curran - The major beneficiary of India's generosity

Another quality of a champion team is the ability to seize the occasion. The mighty West Indians and the Australians were quite capable of dominating the opponents and not allowing them to slip away. Those teams were relentless in their pursuit to win each and every match at all cost.

The current Indian team is found wanting on a number of occasions when they let the game slip out of their reach. The team lacks the killer instinct to finish off matches.

A fine example of that was the first Test at Johannesburg in 2013 when they failed to finish off South Africa in the fourth innings. From 197 for 4, South Africa was left off the hook to recover to 450 for 7, chasing a target of 458.

Even in the Adelaide Test in 2014, India were in a winning position before they caved in. In the first Test at Edgbaston in 2018, India didn’t have the stomach to chase down a gettable target of 196. In South Africa, the Indian batsmen failed to chase down 207 in the first Test.

The above results proved the point that the Indians were never able to up the ante and grab the occasion when the opportunity presented itself.

5. Ability to finish off the tail

This point is interrelated to the earlier point about killer instinct. The champion teams of the past never allowed the tail to wag. Against the West Indies fast bowling quartet, the tailenders were more than willing to return to the safety of the pavilion rather than losing their limbs. Australia had Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne to polish off the tail.

Pakistan had the great Wasim and Waqar to bowl their yorkers at will at the tailenders. There were innumerable occasions when opposition teams were comfortably placed against Pakistan for the loss of a couple of wickets. Then suddenly Wasim and Waqar used to come in for their second spell to terminate the middle-order, late-order and the tail, all in one stroke.

The Indian team has been guilty of allowing the opposition tail to wag which proved to be the turning point in so many matches.

Statistical highlight of the success of the England tail in the recent England series

1. In the second innings of the first Test, England were reduced to 87 for 7 with all the specialist batsmen back in the pavilion. Then the Indian bowlers failed to finish off the tail and the last 3 England wickets added 93 runs. In the end, India finished up losing the match by just 31 runs.

2. In the second Test at Lord’s, in the only innings that England batted, England were in a spot of bother at 131 for 5 before Bairstow and Chris Woakes added 189 runs for the 6th wicket. Finally, from 131 for 5 England declared at 396 for 7. Chris Woakes, the bowling all-rounder, scored his maiden Test century.

3. In the first innings of the fourth Test, England were 86 for 6. The last 4 wickets added 160 runs to reach a competitive score of 246.

4. In the second innings of the fourth Test, England were 122 for 5. The last 5 wickets added 149 runs to set up a target of 245 runs for India to win. India lost that match by 60 runs.

5. In the fifth Test match at the Oval, at one stage, England were precariously placed at 181 for 7. Jos Buttler got reprieved twice by technology even though the on-field call was out. Buttler, with the help of the tailenders, added 151 runs for the last 3 wickets.

The outcome of the England series would have been different had India not allowed the England tail to wag. Another important facet of a champion team that is missing in the present Indian team.