England vs India: MSK Prasad feels two players should've been consistent during the Test series

The defeat margin of 1-4 in the recently concluded five-match Test series look a bit harsh on Team India. It was a closely fought contest and England were constantly put under pressure apart from the Lord’s game. But every time hosts found a savour in Sam Curran who clinched the match from India’s grasp in Birmingham and Southampton. However, the chief selector MSK Prasad feels that the similar scoreline would’ve been in India’s favour if two of their best batsmen would’ve been more consistent.

The visitors struggled to come to the terms in the first couple of Test matches and in no time they were 0-2 down in the series. Though they fought hard in the series opener, England blew them away at the Lord’s. It was the third Test in Nottingham during which they showed their mettle and thrashed the opposition by 203 runs. But come the next two matches, the similar story unfolded. India struggled to dismiss England’s lower order and hence the scoreline.

Who are the two players?

Apart from Virat Kohli, the other batsmen failed throughout the series. Though Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul slammed tons on the last day of the tour it didn’t matter much as they were up against the daunting total. MSK Prasad, in an interview to Times of India, pointed out that Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara should’ve been more consistent in scoring runs during the series.

While the vice-captain of the team ended with 257 runs at an average of 25.70, India’s number three scored 278 runs at an average close to 40. Both of them improved significantly as the series progressed but it was too late. Moreover, they also failed to capitalise after getting starts and only Pujara scored a solitary century with Rahane’s highest score reading 81.

“Over the last few years, Pujara and Rahane have done well in those No. 3 & No. 5 slots. They have enough experience behind them to be the mainstay of our middle order. They did well here too but they could have been a bit more consistent,” Prasad said.

However, he also indirectly cleared that both the cricketers wouldn’t be dropped for the upcoming series and felt that India’s middle order is in safe hands with Kohli, Rahane and Pujara doing a good job.

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