From leading the charge to collapsing in around an hour, India faced another embarrassing morning collapse in Centurion on Tuesday. The Men in Blue who were in a commanding position on Day 1 at 272/3, collapsed in a heap and lost their last 7 wickets for just 55 runs on Day 3 vs South Africa.
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Although the Indian men have had an amazing winning record in Tests this year, registering 7 wins in 13 matches, their morning session slumps have been troublesome. Going by the stats, since December 2020, it was only against New Zealand in Southampton that India scored a little over 100 runs in the World Test Championship, otherwise the team has repeated their ignominious habit of perishing without a fight.
Right from the time when India toured Australia in January 2021, Team India has been collapsing with no fight from the lower order. The trend continued in Melbourne and then at home against England in Ahmedabad. Barring Southampton vs New Zealand, the Indian lower order has failed to put a price on their wicket and managed no more than 10 runs per wicket.
Team India was the finalist of the inaugural World Test Championship after dominating the Test theatre for over 2 years but if Virat Kohli and company want to repeat that success then the misfiring of the lower order and collapses has to be the No. 1 agenda for the Men in Blue.