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Concerns Of Indian Batting: Lower Order Averages More Than Top Order In Tests At Home Since 2021

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin [X]Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin [X]

India is taking on Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After the first three days, the Indian team is in an advantageous position.

Although Bangladesh was looking down the barrel in the match, they had the home team under pressure on the first day of the game. Led by Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh reduced India to 34/3 inside the first ten overs. The Indian all-rounder duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin rescued the team and got the team to a formidable total of 376 runs. 

Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian bowling, reducing the visitors to 149. With a lead of 128 in the second innings, India took the crease for their second dig in the game. However, once more, the top order failed to fire, as they were 67 for three down within the first 20 overs. This time, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant stood for the team and ensured that India set a target of over 500 runs in the fourth innings for Bangladesh. 

These two knocks brought to attention the recent struggles of the Indian top-order in Test cricket. In the last two or three years, the lower order has had to stand up and bail the team out of pressure more than once. 

So, is the Indian lower-order performing better than the top-order in Test cricket? Let us find out what the stats reveal -  

Performance comparison Indian Top Order vs Lower Order in Home Tests Since 2021

Batting Order
Runs
Average
Fifties
Hundreds
No. 1-5
5,42837.402313
No. 6-82,753
38.20184

The stats reveal that the Indian lower order averages more in Test cricket in home Tests since 2021. This indicates that most Indians win inspirational fight backs from the lower-order power. 

Conclusion

These stats point to a few concerning areas in Indian batting - 

  • The top order of Indian batting, comprising Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is struggling to give the team starts in their own backyard.
  • Indian batting relies heavily on Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja to bring them back into a match. 
  • The teams that have dominated the cricketing scenario in the past few decades have had a strong top order. India, even though it has been good in the format for quite a few times, has failed to dominate the game completely. A prime reason behind this could be the team's fragile top-order.