[suhaas307]

Only rain can save us tomorrow.

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

We have been TOO fair with KL. Hopefully, the management will wake up and keep SK in the playing XI and replace KL with Gill. KL is not Kohli or Rohit or in that league. He need to score in domestic circuit and earn his comeback, if there is one.

Agreed. He should be dropped for the next game and Sarfaraz should get the nod.

[PreludeSH]

Still not convinced with how we play new ball on a good bowling pitch. If somehow we play for 20 overs we should score all the runs before the next new ball comes 😃

Hope it rains a lot tomorrow ☹️

[NPV]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Only rain can save us tomorrow.

Despite overnight rain and the rain interruption today, 24 overs were lost but rest were played because Chinnaswamy stadium has a good drainage system. It is raining again now and maybe there will be overnight rain and tomorrow. If the ground dries up quickly tomorrow, and even 15-20 overs are played, New Zealand will be in with a chance and have a go at the target. Another 50-100 runs could have saved us probably.

[padmrajravi]

Our test team is basically a T20 team and they lack the ability to leave the ball alone. Thats why they get bundled out everytime there is a hint of swing or seam. The players who do well against swing and seam leave everything that is not close to wicket. They even leave the off-stump balls for height on bouncy wickets. It is not like every ball pitches on off stump and moves away. Even Bumrah can not do 6 continuous balls like that. Sarfaraz and Pant's innings today were spectacular, but I wonder what it could have been, if they had just kept quite for 10 overs when new ball was taken. Sarfaraz missed first 5 balls in first new ball over trying to play them. A yesteryear classical test batsman would have realized immediately that things have changed and there is no point trying to play every ball. But our team do not have the patience to do it. They would leave 2 good balls and even if the third one is exactly on the same slot, they would throw their bat at it.

[Oxy]

I fail to comprehend why KL Rahul is in the team. Why is he being given such a long rope despite being a tried and tested failure? Every single time the team needs him to perform, he fails. In fact I strongly believe that we won the previous World T20 because he was not in the team to ruin it.

Here in this innings, literally every batsman was fighting it out for the team and everyone scored, except him. Yes I understand the new ball was acting up, but it's not like he has never opened the innings. He is just a glorified tailender these days, adding no value to the team.

Now with Sarfaraz having scored a 150, I really hope KL is dropped for good once Gill is back

[PPS]

In hindsight, that Rachin-Southee partnership has really hurt Team India! But still, getting shot out for 46 is inexcusable. Full marks to the team for putting up a fight in the 2nd innings but this isn't a rank-turner that you expect a visiting team to get shot out for under a 100. Also, India badly needs a good Hit-The-Deck bowler!

Originally Posted by harry10

Now watch team management dropping Sarfu next game when Gill comes back, even if KL fails this innings I trust them to do this stupidity.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Agreed. He should be dropped for the next game and Sarfaraz should get the nod.

Have complete faith in the Team Management that they will drop Sarfaraz in the next Test & stick with KL! I would still prefer KL in Australia though but Sarfaraz could be an interesting option down under irrespective of his not so suitable technique. He just needs to figure out to get some runs down under.

[PreludeSH]

Started raining in my area. Hope we dont lose the match. Here's the drainage system sucking the water away
https://twitter.com/mohanstatsman/st...17585544348023

KL was middling the ball compared to others. But yes there is something wrong with him. Maybe match time. None of our top batsmen take part in Ranji.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by PreludeSH

KL was middling the ball compared to others. But yes there is something wrong with him. Maybe match time. None of our top batsmen take part in Ranji.

KL Rahul is NOT in the list of our TOP batters. We have dropped Pujara, Rahane, Vihari for KL to earn money and spend it on clubbing! There should not be any preferential treatment, if a player is available then he/she should represent his/her Ranji team. I understand with players like Virat, Rohit and Bhumrah not participating to manage their workload. But KL Rahul need to be SENT back to domestic and if he scores more than 900 runs in one season for a minimum 2 seasons only then he should be considered back in the playing XI. There are so many alternatives who are in great form and scored heavily in the Domestic Season.

Abhimanyu, Indrajith, Karun Nair, Pujara, Bhui, Jagadeesan..

This is an apt series to give opportunity to such domestic performers and then take them to Australia.

[searacer932]

KL Rahul's mind needs a re-fresh. The guy loses the battle in the mind itself!

[Revvatron]

I don't remember seeing such empty seats in Bengaluru even for a test match. Is it because of the weather?

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Abhimanyu, Indrajith, Karun Nair, Pujara, Bhui, Jagadeesan..

This is an apt series to give opportunity to such domestic performers and then take them to Australia.

Easwaran, Bhui & Indrajith are going to Australia in early November to play the "A" test series, along with Sai Sudarshan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Padikkal. All rounders Nitish Reddy & Manav Suthar are also going. Excited to see both, although I wanted to see Prasidh Krishna on that flight too.

One of Sai, Abhimanyu or Gaikwad might even play the first two BGT tests as Rohit will be unavailable due to the birth of his second child.

Originally Posted by Revvatron

I don't remember seeing such empty seats in Bengaluru even for a test match. Is it because of the weather?

It's more to do with the fact we are losing by 8 wickets

Man Bumrah's first spell was so amazing. Could have easily had a 5 wicket haul with some luck.

[Vinod_nair]

Comprehensive win by Black caps, well done.

[NomadSK]

One bad toss decision + one bad team (KL) selection + one bad batting session = One lost test match.

It was always a catch up game after session 1 of Day 1 (Technically). Only a miracle like Dravid & Laxman would have given us a chance. Sarfaraz & Pant gave it up after being well settled for long, although Pant was a bit unlucky since he was trying to defend, Sarfaraz gave up with a loose shot (not excusable). Both of them needed to play time and new ball at that moment, which Sarfaraz didn't looked like.

Forget about KL's batting, to me he never looked interested in the game, probably will be doing "drink duties" in next game, till he goes back to domestic duties.

Although Sarfaraz looked like a gritty fighter, but scoring around 80% of those runs behind the wicket doesn't instill any confidence, If this would be his game down-under, I'm sure they would have a easy-peasy plan for him before he even lands there.

Well played black caps, see you @ Pune.

[PreludeSH]

Not sure how Sarfaraz would cope with new ball. Most of our runs came with the first new ball after opening wicket played well.

Does Bumrah bowl lot of unplayable balls outside stumps ? In Tests you dont have to play them. NZ, Aus, Eng, SA batters have that discipline.

There was good crowd yesterday. The result was mostly known for today

[NPV]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

One bad toss decision + one bad team (KL) selection + one bad batting session = One lost test match.

The team that plays the first innings of a test match and scores < 150 usually loses the game, so it’s a miracle we played exceptionally well in the second innings and even had (misplaced) hopes of a win!
Never easy to play the catch up game after a disastrous first innings.

Some of the recent Test games show that a result is possible in 3 days or 270 overs which shows how much the Test game has changed now, higher risk taking and more results, a lot of T20 influence definitely.