The team management problems that are hurting the Indian team overseas

2. Indian pitches = dustbowls

The infamous Nagpur pitch that symbolized the extremes of turn

From our baby-days in cricket, we have been famous for the plethora of top-quality spinners we churned out of the sub-continental dustbowls. Until the last decade, barring a few like Zaheer Khan and the illustrious Kapil Dev, most fast-bowlers were expected to wear out the new ball to provide grip for the spinners.

The heavy backlash of this unidirectional approach was the toothless performance of seamers overseas. However, times have changed and now we have a settled pace battery with the likes of Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Shami, and Ishant to name a few. They have performed remarkably abroad even when the home conditions offer little practice in a lush-green pitch, so imagine the havoc they can cause if given more practice in seam-friendly conditions, match-winners can be moulded.

The curious case of Hardik Pandya would also obtain some clarity, as he has shown intent in the off-chance where the pitch had something to offer. A precocious youngster like him needs some dedicated mentoring, else he can spiral down into another regretful example of a wasted prodigy.

The case of batting is even more critical. The classic "moving bowl outside off-stump" has proved to be the Achilles heel of most Indian batsmen. Similar troubles with the short ball have been addressed well but without local pitches assisting lateral movement, a similar solution can never be arrived at. Apart from Kohli himself, Pujara, and to an extent, Rahane, no one has been able to resist the temptation to poke at such balls. Especially the openers need to be taught restraint, else India will start on the back-foot every time they come out to bat away from home.