some thoughts (maybe connected, but mostly disconnected):
I think some people are too down on Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane. Yes, they are in poor form. But they will overcome as they are proven players. Plus, realistically, India doesn’t actually have better replacements for any of them.
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After winning the Australia series when missing lots of first teamers, the team India fielded for 2nd test is as close to India’s first choice team as possible - except for one person - Ravi Ashwin. And as painful as it is, you gotta kick out Jadeja for Ashwin if conditions dictate playing 4 pacers. Your lone spinner needs to be your best one. And jadeja is unfortunately #2.
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England is as bad a place as India was in the Aus series with lots of first teamers missing (Stokes, Archer, Broad, Pope). But they lack depth. Especially at bat. Like really badly. All their depth is in whiteball cricket. First class county cricket must be so unimaginably weak. (This doesnt bode well for Test cricket if this pattern holds.)
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Since India has struggled with openers for a while, I have long believed that Pujara should open. Why dont they run this experiment? He may not score at a high rate but he will stick around most of the time for 20+ overs and help dull the new ball. Then Rohit can go in at 3 (which is probably better suited for him too).