England vs India 2018: Why England are favourites to win the Test series

India need clarity on selection and must trust their players more

One reason that makes England clear favourites is the fact that unlike India they have a pleasant selection headache as Ben Stokes is now available to play.

India’s situation is exactly the opposite now. They are breeding an atmosphere of self-doubt and aren’t helping themselves at all. After one failure, why drop Shikhar Dhawan if he was the first choice to open along with Murali Vijay after one bad Test match? Why drop someone like a Cheteshwar Pujara who is a Test specialist even though he hasn’t had a very good run of form coming into this Test series?

The selection of some players like Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test match and the promotion of Hardik Pandya to the third fast bowler role, overlooking Ravindra Jadeja are indeed baffling. Those decisions made on gut feeling are certainly adding pressure to the players selected.

None of the players would want to go into a battle in foreign conditions against the quality which England possess with a thought that if they fail they would be dropped for the next game. That burdens their mind and doesn’t allow them to express themselves.

This Indian team management needs to show clarity as far as selection goes. On paper, they look like a side that can still go on to upsurge England despite being 0-2 down in the Test series. It is up to the captain and the selectors to pick an XI they think will be the best suited for these conditions and back those players in all situations.

India need to show the resolve, self-belief and self-confidence they displayed in abundance in South Africa and for most parts of the first Test match in Edgbaston. As it stands, it’s only Virat Kohli who seems to be playing against England.

Keeping the performances in the first two Tests, it looks like England seem to be winning the mind battle, and the skills battle. India certainly can help themselves by making sure everyone is mentally and physically ready to take on England.