Specsavers' second England-India Test, 2018: Five Reasons why India lost

#4. Lack of contribution from Pujara, Rahane and Karthik

Stuart Broad celebrates the fall of Dinesh Karthik in the second inning

While the openers are clearly to blame for not giving India even a decent start in both innings, the batsmen that followed are not to be spared from criticism either. Judging by the kind of verve that Pujara, Rahane or Karthik has displayed across several previous situations in their individual careers, it was saddening to see their knocks in the game carrying a tinge, if not too much - of irresponsibility.

Pujara and Rahane especially are known for their mature approach to the game in all-whites, but neither of them have displayed any cause for their respective worths as "Dravid's successor at No. 3" and "Dravid's favourite cricketer" respectively - well that's how they are most widely known, aren't they.

It is important for batsmen to try and stick on to the pitch in Test cricket, the ultimate test of talent being the way they negotiate the conditions at play. With both openers down for cheap scores, that is exactly what Rahane and Pujara should have done, but both of them looked absolutely clueless for the entire length of time they were down there in the middle.

Dinesh Karthik was seen by many as a worthy successor to MS Dhoni in Tests, especially after having had to stay under the latter's shadow for such a long time before finally getting an opportunity. But Karthik has not been able to make use of what he has got, and with Wriddhiman Saha recovering from a shoulder injury and a highly energetic Rishabh Pant very much active in the sidelines, it may look like Karthik will soon go back into where he was all this while - at the fringe of national selection.