India need to believe they can do the job in Guwahati

Can India pull it back against South Africa in the second Test?

In Manchester India was reduced to 0-2 and the match was on the line when Shubman Gill and KL Rahul stepped up to forge a fantastic partnership that was instrumental in India saving the game. Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja both scored hundreds and it was one of the most impressive fightbacks of recent times. That’s what lacked in Kolkata. We did not see fight from India. We did not see a single batter put his hand up and make it count. We did not see someone wanting to grind it out and show temperament and resolve. We did not see fight and that’s the truth.

The pitch was indeed difficult to bat on. But as Sunil Gavaskar said it wasn’t devilish. Temba Bavuma demonstrated to us all that with application and effort, you could indeed score runs on that track. India did not have a Bavuma who made it count.

Yes India missed Shubman Gill and it was 10 against 11 from the time Gill walked off. In any sport 10 against 11 is always an uphill battle and more so when you are missing your captain who is also your best batter. Having said that India had the batters to win the game and it was a job that should have been accomplished. It wasn’t for the batters were mentally not up for the challenge. It wasn’t an issue of skill. The demons were in the mind. New Zealand 0-3 was still looming on the horizon and the pressure had started to mount on India the moment Jaiswal and Rahul fell early into the innings.

The Indian side isn’t a bad side at all. England is proof they can win from tough situations. At the Oval they showed us all that they can. England went into day 5 as the favorites and India, much like South Africa, took it away. That’s what did not happen at Eden Gardens. India lacked the belief and the confidence that they could do it. All of a sudden home tests have become a mental issue and unless that is addressed we will not win Guwahati.

If there is one thing Gautam Gambhir needs to work on in the next few days, it is this mental fragility of the Indian batting unit. You need to be able to bat in difficult conditions for that’s what Test cricket is about. We have seen India do it at the Oval. No reason why you can’t do it at home. And when you watch the highlights you know that the Indians did not give wickets to balls that turned viciously. Rather five of them gave up their wickets and that’s what hurt the team. Dhruv Jurel who was looking good got out to a rank long hop. He could have dispatched it to any part of the ground and yet he was unable to beat the fielder. Pant too got out to a poor shot as did Axar. Shot selection and temperament was the issue and it yet again takes us back to the issue of mental fragility.

In the remaining days Gautam Gambhir has his task cut out. He needs to make his boys believe they are good enough. They do have the skill. They need to believe they have it.