[KPR]

Originally Posted by msdivy

Now the Indian captain & coach have to do that now. This will require a special one from Kohli. Can he cross his best of 254* ?

Well my guess is that even if he plays all remaining tests in this series he may not cross 254 as aggregate. Rahane and Pujara are getting games because first on extension is out of form captain who is nothing but a cheer leader. Oh! I'm editing this post to mention that captain can miss easy catches too if the captain name is Kohli.

[papr23]

Originally Posted by KPR

Well my guess is that even if he plays all remaining tests in this series he may not cross 254 as aggregate. Rahane and Pujara are getting games because first on extension is out of form captain who is nothing but a cheer leader. Oh! I'm editing this post to mention that captain can miss easy catches too if the captain name is Kohli.

We went from hoping Kohli's 100 to team total to cross 100 real fast. No great expectations from the second innings. The pitch may not look flat when Jimmy & co bowl.

The smart thing the English team has done is remove all the grass from the pitch. There is no seam movement or spin off the pitch which severely handicapped our bowlers.

I am still hoping for a miracle though!

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by vibbs

And India creates History!

Good old school days of Book Cricket. Once, Venkatesh Prasad bailed me out with 200+ runs

[harry10]

For me - 99% probability we gonna lose this and that too with an innings defeat. 1% is of a miracle batting ( highly unlikely considering middle order) and obviously Rain god's ( again unlikely as forcast is all clear for all days). Let's hope and see.

Only if Rain hadn't saved England in first test we would be 2-0 ahead right now and this defeat won't sting too much. 1-1 means it can go either way next 2 matches.

[NPV]

Rahul looked out of sorts, escaped once when the lbw review went in his favour but got out in the last over before lunch
A good batting pitch with batting friendly weather conditions still makes batting for India's batsmen so difficult

Come on guys, draw inspiration from this 1979 Lords test.

[Oxy]

This match is gone for sure, will be a miracle in itself if we make England bat again.

Pujara, Kohli and Rahane are in such wretched form that a huge gaping hole in the middle order has been created. We have got Vihari and Suryakumar on the bench, they would have to be tried at some point.

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by NPV

If just this part happens, it would be history (even a draw is enough from this stage). Typically such games are lost the moment there is such a bad first innings (< 100). But yes, we can draw inspiration from that 1999 test Vs New Zealand when India got 505/3 in the second innings after a first innings of 83 (mentioned in an earlier post).

Originally Posted by redCherry

Oh! If wishes were horses ....

If you ask me, I think we are staring at innings defeat, or at best 'just managing to avoid it'

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Good old school days of Book Cricket. Once, Venkatesh Prasad bailed me out with 200+ runs

Yes guys, if wishes were horses. Yes I know. But no harm in dreaming right?

I know India will most probably lose by an innings and also expect them to come back strongly next match. I just hope Kohli gets something going. He is the fire that ignites this team. As much as I hate his mannerisms at times, I know he is the fuel that keeps us going.

If he finds his mojo, then God save England

Him being woefully out of form is the only thing stopping this team from being one of the greatest test teams ever!

[hothatchaway]

Originally Posted by vibbs

Him being woefully out of form is the only thing stopping this team from being one of the greatest test teams ever!

He wasn't around in Australia, yet and even with a depleted squad, the team put out perhaps it's best overseas test display ever

Don't think the team is dependent on one particular individual, even if it's a phenomenal batsman like Kohli

[Bhargav7]

Originally Posted by Oxy

This match is gone for sure, will be a miracle in itself if we make England bat again.

Imagine, if Pujara replicates Root's innings, Rahane, Kohli, Rohit chip in with some 50 odd runs each and Pant does a Pant; we never know. That's a lot of wishful thinking though

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

He wasn't around in Australia, yet and even with a depleted squad, the team put out perhaps it's best overseas test display ever

Don't think the team is dependent on one particular individual, even if it's a phenomenal batsman like Kohli

Did I say we are dependent on him?

There is a difference between being dependent on one batsman and the greatest batsman being in form transforming you into the realm of greatness.

[NPV]

Rohit and Pujara have done well - so far so good, so what ? Yes, we do have 7 sessions of play left but something is better than nothing.

If any of you'll have moles on your tongues, please don't curse or say anything about India losing

[mazda4life]

its 2 down now, Rohit S out for 59(?)

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

Don't think the team is dependent on one particular individual, even if it's a phenomenal batsman like Kohli

I dont think the post meant dependent on Kohli. It simply meant that his form is critical for the team to become the greatest in the current decade. We saw in Australia, without his presence we could pull off a great series win.

But when Kohli scores, he makes sure that people hear, talk and appreciate it. His form and upbeat mannerism is imperative for other members to lift their own game.

I hate to say this, but Kohli + Shastri may not have added any technical improvements to the team but they have shown them how to play like a G.O.A.T

Cheering for a double for Kohli

[Bibendum90949]

Jimmy - the workhorse who's still chipping away.

[vibbs]

A very good fightback. So there is hope for my overall prediction to come true. Perhaps Pujara will make up for the shortfall from Rohit and Rahul. Kohli will get his double.

And we will win this match. Keep the positivity up guys. The lads won us a series in Australia. How many have done it? Cheers.