#IndiaInEngland: India's biggest worry is not middle-order but slip catching
Without a shadow of doubt, Kohli and Co. need to improve their slip catching. The repeated failures by India's slip fielders were witnessed against South Africa, earlier this year, and now another instance came to the fore in the first session of Birmingham Test. Jennings was dropped by Ajinkya Rahane. It is clear that India's biggest worry is not their middle order but catching.
When Ishant squared up Jennings
Ishant Sharma was struggling with his line in the morning, but a moment of brilliance came in the 6th over. The senior pacer got opener Keaton Jennings squared up and the batsman offered a catch at the slip cordon. The ball was coming down nicely towards Virat Kohli, but Ajinkya Rahane at 4th slip dived in front of him and dropped.
Jennings races to an unbeaten 38 at Lunch
Kohli's reaction after Rahane's drop said it all, as the duo looked at each other post the incident. Rahane is generally a good slip catcher, but that's mainly against spin. His struggles seemed to continue against seam. England's score read 20/0 at that moment, with Jennings batting on 9. The southpaw made the most out of this incident and raced to an unbeaten 38.
Stats show India struggling
India's slip catching has been awful against pacers since January 2015. They have had a 67% success rate and lie at 2nd place from the bottom above Bangladesh. Since the tour of South Africa in 2013, India have dropped 120 catches at slips overall from 49 Tests including Rahane's one. Since December 2013, India have dropped 47 catches off seamers in Tests.
Similar sight for India
India dropped a host of catches against the Proteas in January 2018. That, in turn, saw the South African side add valuable runs in the end which helped them do well. If India continue in the same vein, expect England to capitalize consistently.
