The harrowing loss suffered by India at Headingley is enough to put a dampener on hopes but the side has enough firepower to make a strong comeback and claim the series, writes Sarah Waris.

Ever since the highs of 2007, India have struggled in England. There are no two ways about that, and neither can the harsh fact be mentioned in clearer words. Yes, there have been images of Ishant Sharma exult with his shrieking face getting buried amongst his tresses. There has also been Ajinkya Rahane’s silent celebration at getting a hundred to go with Virat Kohli’s animated leap after the India skipper finally put aside his horrors to notch up his first century in the country. KL Rahul’s knock from 2018 figures in there somewhere, as does Rahul Dravid’s single-handed efforts to bring some respectability on what was a bizarre tour in 2011.

There have been wins too. Following the whitewash ten years ago, the Indian team have managed to return from the country with at least one victory in their next three outings. There was Lord’s in 2014 where the visitors pitched in with a stellar showing in the second innings in either department. There was the 203-run routing of the hosts four years later at Trent Bridge with Kohli and Rahane and Hardik Pandya raising their game after a heavy innings defeat at Lord’s. This time, the coarse language-filled high-on-emotions match at the Mecca of Cricket was pocketed by the Indians, but the dream of a rare series win in the country ended with a rude awakening as the team slumped to 78 all out before conceding their series lead.

And that has, in short, been the story of India in England for the last decade-and-a-half. So close, so very close. The series win in England, almost like the Great Gatsby’s yearning for the green light. His desire to win back Daisy. India’s wish for the trophy. It’s within his grasp, it’s within India’s reach. Her porch lights, shining on his patio, calling out to him. England’s indifferent batting, and a string of injuries, fill India with silent belief. She’s there for the taking. The trophy is right there too. They’ll happen, it’ll happen. It doesn’t.

A lot to play for: a repeat or a new chapter?

Kohli’s men are adamant to change all of that and much more as they begin their preparations for the last two Tests in England. Before them, they have the example of two historical series — the Pataudi Trophy in 2014 or the Ashes Down Under in 2010/11 — and which way the ongoing series pans out will depend a lot on the confidence carried around by the visiting group.

Both the Pataudi Trophy in 2014 and the Ashes four years earlier had started off with a draw before the visitors sealed the next game rather convincingly. The hosts had bounced back on both occasions to make it 1-1, similar to how this series between England and India has panned out. But while India were unable to come back after England’s win in 2014, losing the remaining matches, the Ashes had seen the Andrew Strauss-led side put the defeat against Australia behind them as they claimed the urn, winning 3-1.

So far, India’s inability to come back after a loss in the UK has proven to be their biggest nemesis, but there’s reason to believe that a new chapter awaits. The side, instead of wallowing in their 36 all out at Adelaide, were asked to “wear the score like a badge”, remember the humiliation that had been inflicted and come out with all their might to show their skills. A team sans the big guns had taken on the challenge, fought valiantly, and won over the fortress at Gabbatoir, and it would be ridiculous to expect anything less than a fight this time around as well from a team led by a skipper who revels in rising when the backs are against the wall.

It’s not all about self-belief, though. It’s skills too. Yes, India’s batting is undoubtedly their weak suit but the strength with the ball combined with England’s over-reliance on Joe Root means that the visitors can never really be ruled out. The English skipper has amassed 507 runs thus far, but the second-highest run-getter Jonny Bairstow has scored 147 runs in five innings. Only one other batsman has scored 100+ runs from the country in the series, in contrast to India’s batting efforts — while still abysmal, marginally better — where five players have scored in excess of 100 runs.

The quicks have struggled in patches but have not been far behind, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami picking up 14, 13, and 11 wickets respectively. Bumrah and Siraj also have a strike-rate of 46.2 and 46.5, the second-best and third-best among quicks with a minimum of 10 wickets in the series, and one almost trusts Ravichandran Ashwin’s potential inclusion in the next two games, where wickets will have more spin on offer, will bolster the attack further.

For long, India have remained adamant in their tactics, the most recent being their eagerness to go in with four fast bowlers and a spinner, which have bitten them in the back as they looked to close series’ overseas. It is not to say that the same might not repeat itself this time too, but a few tweaks in their XI along with some patience at the crease with the bat might just see the sequences of Ashes 2010 being written again, this time by India.

Rohit Sharma looks ready to replicate Alastair Cook’s run from then, with KL Rahul giving him company, just like Andrew Strauss had. The visitors had a constant thorn-in-the-flesh in the form of Mike Hussey, who had scored two tons and three fifties, and Root is essaying a similar role this time around. The England fast bowlers were at par with Aussies’ quicks, very similar to how the two sides stack up currently. The only difference? Graeme Swann had picked up 15 wickets for England in Ashes 2010, and well, if we really believe in superstitions, we know who to push for in the XI!