India’s recent Test loss to England at Lord’s has sparked a conversation about a curious pattern: the team’s tendency to lose wickets just before session breaks, prompting a playful jab from former England captain Michael Vaughan.
A Recurring Problem for India
The Indian cricket team recently lost the third Test at Lord’s by 22 runs, falling behind 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With an eight-day gap until the next Test, there’s ample time for reflection on what went wrong, especially after such a narrow defeat.
One particular issue that demands a closer look is India’s habit of losing wickets in quick succession, often right before a session break like lunch. This recurring “pre-lunch collapse” has become a talking point.
Michael Vaughan’s Witty Observation
Former England captain Michael Vaughan didn’t hold back, offering a light-hearted, yet pointed, observation. Vaughan jokingly suggested that the Indian team “obviously like the food here” because players seem to get dismissed right before lunch, ensuring an early meal.
Beyond the humor, Vaughan highlighted a serious concern: a lack of concentration. He noted that overthinking at the end of a session can lead to dismissals, emphasizing the need for players to “just naturally play.” He attributed this to a “mentality thing” and the “inexperience of the group.”
The Cost of Concentration Lapses
Vaughan believes that with the batting depth India possesses, they should have comfortably chased the 193-run target in the third Test. He pointed out that captain Shubman Gill would be concerned by these “collapses,” citing instances like the first innings collapse, the quick wickets on the previous evening, and three more on the final morning.
“You don’t win many Test matches when you lose so many wickets in clusters,” Vaughan stressed. Cricket analyst Dinesh Karthik also highlighted this pattern, specifically mentioning the dismissals of Nitish Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah right before breaks in the recent Test.
A Troubling Trend Across Matches
This isn’t a new issue for India. At Headingley, they lost KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan on Day 1, followed by Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, and Shardul Thakur on Day 2. In Edgbaston, Karun Nair and Ravindra Jadeja’s wickets fell at crucial junctures.
The recent Lord’s Test saw Rishabh Pant’s dismissal on Day 3, and then Nitish Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah lost their wickets on Day 5, all contributing to the ‘cluster’ problem. This consistent pattern of giving away crucial wickets just before breaks has undoubtedly hurt India’s chances.
- India often loses wickets in clusters, particularly before session breaks.
- Michael Vaughan attributes this to a lack of concentration and an inexperienced batting group.
- This pattern has been observed across multiple Tests in the series, costing India crucial momentum.
Despite the pressure of trailing 1-2 in the series, Vaughan acknowledged that captain Gill could find some solace in the fighting spirit shown by his young team. However, addressing these pre-session collapses will be key for India as they look to bounce back in the remainder of the series.
