England vs India 2018, 3rd Test: 3 Indians for whom this might be the last opportunity

After letting England snatch victory from right out of their pocket in the first test, India were mauled at Lord’s. Kohli has been the lone star for India thus far with Ashwin and Pandya chipping in now and again harmlessly. Bowlers have been middle-of-the-road on most occasions and the top order, middle order and the lower middle order have failed in unison. Even by Kohli’s standards, there is only so much that he can do on his own.

The batters have to get back on their feet and stake their claim for their position in the team, especially when a handful of lads are piling on runs at will in the domestic circuit.

Time is ticking and for these guys, the 3rd test might well be the last opportunity to tell the world that they truly belong in the international level.

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#1 Murali Vijay

Vijay scored a pair at Lord's

‘The Monk’ as he is fondly known, has not found his trademark composure so far in the series. His prized faculty of retreating from the shot and watching the ball fly past him has eluded him without warning. The most reliable batsman from the 2014 series is struggling to combat swing and his foot movement hasn’t been assertive.

The pair he managed at Lord’s has set the alarm bell ringing louder than ever. His average of 39.33 is middling at best for an opener who plays predominantly in the sub-continent. He has to come out in flying colours in the 3rd test or the going can get really tough for the sleek opener.

#2 Dinesh Karthik

Karthik has been having a forgettable time with both bat and gloves

Dinesh Karthik became a household name after his heroics in the Nidahas Trophy final. Finally, his talent and potential were getting acknowledged. But it was short lived. Dinesh Karthik’s comeback into whites hasn’t exactly gone to plan. His time at the crease in this series makes one wonder if he has a plane to catch. 0, 20, 1, 0 are not the numbers a batsman would want to associate himself with. His strokes scream he wasn’t adequately prepared for this testing endeavour.

The Tamil Nadu lad’s work behind the stumps also doesn’t drop jaws. There is lack of necessary communication between him and the slip fielders. More often than not he seems to be oblivious to the space required between him and the first slip. His 82 against England Lions in the practice match is his only saviour which tries to paint him as a capable candidate in these conditions.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane continues to poke at balls well outside off stump

The unassuming vice-captain of the side has so far been following the footsteps of Virat Kohli from the 2014 England series. He is unable to chop his instinct of dabbing at harmless balls outside off stump. He hasn’t played a defining knock so far which further extends his lean patch.

The overseas emperor is no stranger to these conditions having scored a century at Lord’s during the England series of 2014. But one feels if he has been basking in past glories for a tad too long. As a responsible vice-captain, the Indian management would want the Mumbaikar to assist his skipper at the crease and fight the uphill battle.