England vs India 2018: India's major worries ahead of the Lord's test

3) What's wrong with Ajinkya Rahane?

It's been a year since Rahane's last Test century

Ajinkya Rahane has been a pale shadow of himself over the past 12 months- he has passed the score of 20 just once in 9 innings, that instance being the match-winning 48 in Johannesburg in January. He has been India's most consistent batsman in tough conditions overseas, having scored centuries in Lord's, Wellington, Melbourne and Kingston along with a 96 in Durban in 2013. His prolonged lean patch is a worrying sign for India.

Rahane has proven his skills across the world leaving no doubt about his ability. So it is probably a case of him being low on self-confidence. Despite being the vice-captain, he was dropped from the team during the South Africa tour which may have further dented his confidence.

The team management must ensure that this feeling of insecurity is eliminated and Rahane is given the best possible opportunity to express himself. A sound batting technique combined with experience is exactly what the team needs and that is why Rahane is so crucial to India's chances in the series.