Indian batsmen need to regain self-belief: VVS Laxman

India have the “wherewithal” to fight back in the Test series after trailing 0-2 but for that to happen, the visitors must clear doubts in their minds first, feels former cricketer VVS Laxman. The batsman, who had helped India stage one of their biggest comebacks in a Test series in 2001 against Australia, said the Indian players lacked belief in themselves and that was one reason why they suffered a humiliating loss at Lord’s.

England were all over the visitors at the home of cricket as they surrendered without a fight in either of the two innings and lost the match by an innings and 159 runs. None of the Indian batsmen could score a half-century in the game as the team got bowled out twice inside 83 overs for 107 and 130, respectively.

“After excellent commitment at Edgbaston, the lack of fight (at Lord’s ) was galling. England did have the better of the conditions, but they also made most of the assistance they received, while India caved in meekly, especially when it came to batting,” Laxman, 43, said in his column for Times of India.

Lack of belief is hurting India

India lost the first Test at Edgbaston by 31 runs despite being in a position to win the game, thanks to the same batting debacle. Except for the captain Virat Kohli who slammed 200 runs in the game (149 and 51), no other Indian batsman could produce a minimum of resistance and India failed to overhaul a moderate target of 194.

“As much as the technical inadequacies, what stood out was a lack of belief. It manifested itself in tentativeness. Once you start doubting your abilities, there is no way back,” the former stylish batsman who played in 134 Tests for India between 1996 and 2012, further wrote.

“One should be flexible in team selection. At the toss on the second morning, with clouds gathering and everything crying out for a third specialist paceman, India left out Umesh Yadav and brought in Kuldeep Yadav. As well as Hardik Pandya bowled, India were unable to maintain relentless pressure when England were 131/5, which helped Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes to stage a wonderful rescue act,”

Laxman also pointed out that India could reach 250 or more only twice in their last 10 innings abroad and on both occasions, Kohli’s tons did the job for them. Such a picture doesn’t reflect well on an experienced Indian batting line-up which has played earlier in English conditions. The third Test of the series begins at Trent Bridge on August 18.

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