India's young players are finding it hard to negotiate the bounce and pace of West Indies pitches and that makes them stand in poor light. The transition for this young lads from T20 glitz to the grind of tests is proving to be difficult, but there are still 3 innings left in the series for this lads to prove themselves before the seniors and first choice players return.
Kohli would be very unhappy with himself for the chances he has fluffed in the 3 innings so far. Also making things tough for him are the runs Raina is getting at 6. Scores of 82, 27 and 53 means he would certainly be front runner for #6 spot in England and would edge ahead of Yuvraj, Pujara and of course Kohli.
Bowlers are having hay day in the bouncier track of Barbados, but the rains made the spoilsport of the 2nd day when India had superb chance to make more inroads in the fragile batting of the Windies. Ishant Sharma has looked a super Test bowler this series and now he stands just 1/2 wkts away from 100 wickets, something which only 4 other fast bowlers in the country have achieved before. He's got a tight nose over Sarwan with dismissing him 3 times in 24 deliveries. An in-form Ishant Sharma augurs well for India's chances to retain the England series next month.
And it was left again to Laxman to play a crisis innings to pull India out of the dump. Something he has done so many times over his 15 year career. And he also became 4th Indian to reach 8000 mark in Tests. Unlucky to have missed 100, he made sure India had a decent scoreline.
MSD would surely be furious over himself given lack of runs in this series. 0, 16 and 2 dont do a justice at all to his ability in Tests. The 3rd day if uninterrupted by rains shall decide which way the series goes. If India nabs few early wickets and gets Chandu out quickly, then match would sway India's way. India would certainly like to avoid 1997 and 2002 encore on this ground.
