Indian top order has failed to provide a good start again and again when chasing a tough target
England beat India by 60 runs in the fourth Test to take a series-clinching 3-1 lead in Southampton on Sunday. Chasing 245 for a win, India were all out for 184 in their second innings.
It was a tough ask for India who had managed to chase a 200-plus target successfully on three times outside India. Their chances were not helped by a poor start as they lost 3 wickets for just 22 runs.
While KL Rahul departed without troubling the scorers, Shikhar Dhawan added 17 runs before getting out. Cheteshwar Pujara, who had scored a hundred in the first innings, fell for just five runs.
However, this is not first time the Indian top order failed to provide a good start to India when chasing a target in test matches.
Indian top order have a dismal record when the team is chasing a target to win in the fourth innings. If one takes a look at the last three test matches where India were chasing a target in the last innings, it is clear that the top three batsmen have always let India down.
India vs England - Birmingham
India were chasing 194 runs to win the first test of the ongoing series against England in Birmingham. In the second innings, the openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan scored just 6 and 13 runs respectively. KL Rahul, batting at number three, added just 13 runs. India had lost their first three wickets for just 46 runs. In the end, India lost the match by 31 runs.
India vs South Africa - Centurion
In the second test match of the series against South Africa, India were chasing a tough target of 287 runs. In the second innings, India's top three batsmen contributed just 32 runs. While M Vijay scored 9, KL Rahul added just 4 runs. Pujara was run out for 19 runs. India lost the match by 135 runs to go down 2-0 in the series.
India vs South Africa - Cape Town
India were also chasing in the first match of the test series against South Africa. They needed 208 runs to win on a tough wicket and were hoping for a good start. However, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan scored just 13 and 16 runs respectively. Pujara, at number 3, added just 4 runs. India were all out for 135 runs to lose the match by 72 runs.
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