India tour of England 2018
The Indian Test team will hope their middle order batsmen put in the fight against England, when they two sides meet in a five-match Test series starting August 1.
After all the success at home in the last two seasons, the Indian team will be eyeing to carry the momentum overseas and produce something special. Earlier in South Africa this year, Virat Kohli’s men lost the series 1-2 but showed character.
As compared to the Indian teams of the past that visited England, the current crop of players in the side looks like having a realistic chance to do something positive. Back in 2007, India had beaten England 1-0 in a three-match series. Perhaps, they can repeat a similar note of success this time around.
Virat Kohli’s side boasts of some solid Test batsmen in their ranks and their job will be a testing task when they take on an England attack that can spring in surprises.
With James Anderson and Stuart Broad leading the pace attack with the new ball, they will not make life any simple for Kohli’s troops. Also, there is Adil Rashid, who had an excellent ODI series.
The conditions in England boasts familiarities as India in recent past haven’t done well. But Kohli will be a bit jittery, despite knowing he has the ammunition in the middle order that can keep them in the game. The middle-order has struggled off late and a lot will depend on the batsmen’s character and shot-making especially in grinding out their innings.
India did not impress in the practice match against Essex and that means there will be extra work lined up to face the England attack. The number one Test side led by Kohli has the zeal, but can their middle-order deliver on the day?
Here is an analysis of India’s middle order batsmen and the attributes they possess.
Cheteshwar Pujara
The Saurashtra batsman has been pivotal for India in that middle order amassing runs aplenty over the years. Majority of his runs have come at home, with only Sri Lanka being a place where he found solace. Outside the sub-continent, Pujara has often struggled and that was seen against the Proteas in 2018 too.
He is out of form and has been short of runs in England that includes the County stint for Yorkshire. His enormous patience will be a key in wearing down the bowlers, but given the current struggles can he be of help?
- Against England away, he has 222 runs from 5 matches with an average of 22.20.
- Best score outside the sub-continent is 153 against South Africa at Johannesburg.
| C Pujara | Runs (Home) | Avg (Home) | Runs (Away) | Avg (Away) | Runs (Overall) | Avg (Overall) |
| 3121 | 62.42 | 1410 | 35.25 | 4531 | 50.34 |
Virat Kohli
The skipper will be spearheading the batting once again at that No. 4 position. He is the side’s best bet against England attack led by James Anderson. Yes, he struggled here in 2014, but Kohli has been in the best form since the last two seasons. He had a productive tour of SA in January. His glaring performance in Australia where he smashed three tons back in 2014-15 will be back of his mind as he knows how crucial his runs in the middle is.
The Englishmen will know that Kohli will be the biggest thorn who could hurt them. And they are hoping to contain him and brought Adil Rashid to the side, who troubled him in the ODIs.
- Against ENG away, he has 134 runs from 5 matches with an average of 13.40
- Best score outside the sub-continent is 200 against West Indies at NorthSound.
| V Kohli | Runs (Home) | Avg (Home) | Runs (Away) | Avg (Away) | Runs (Overall) | Avg (Overall) |
| 2921 | 63.50 | 2633 | 45.39 | 5554 | 53.40 |
Ajinkya Rahane
The vice-captain will know that a big inning is long due. Rahane hasn’t been quite in song with only just a solitary ton in 2017, and also a series to forget against Sri Lanka. He was dropped for the first two Tests against South Africa, before coming for the 3rd match. The team management has backed him though and Rahane knows he is just an innings away to regain the confidence. His record overseas is impressive than at home, and he had a decent series last time here in England.
- Against ENG away, he has 299 runs from 5 matches with an average of 33.22.
- Best score away outside the sub-continent is 147 against Australia at Melbourne.
| A Rahane | Runs (Home) | Avg (Home) | Runs (Away) | Avg (Away) | Runs (Overall) | Avg (Overall) |
| 1019 | 32.87 | 1874 | 52.05 | 2893 | 43.17 |
Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik made a return to Test cricket after a gap of 8 years when he played against Afghanistan in June, 2018. He is a regular squad member in the limited-overs game since a season now, and the veteran comes to England for the Tests with happy memories of 2007. He knows this is his big chance to impress and bring a lot of charisma in the middle-order.
He is the in-form batsman and goes to Birmingham after hitting 82 against Essex recently. A productive series here will earn him a berth for the next tour against Australia in 2018-19.
- Against ENG away, he has 263 runs from 3 matches with an average of 43.83
- Best score outside the sub-continent is 91 against England.
| D Karthik | Runs (Home) | Avg (Home) | Runs (Away) | Avg (Away) | Runs (Overall) | Avg (Overall) |
| 326 | 20.37 | 678 | 32.28 | 1004 | 27.13 |
When it comes to partnerships the Indian middle order batsmen have had some decent shows as a pair. Let’s have a look at some of the best partnerships outside the sub-continent of these mentioned players.
Pujara and Kohli: Runs 222 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2013
Kohli and Rahane: Runs 262 against Australia at Melbourne in 2014
Kohli and Rahane: Runs 101 against Australia at Adelaide in 2014