India vs England: What is exactly wrong with the England batters?

Former cricketer and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra didn’t hesitate to express his disappointment with England’s batting performance in the first ODI against India. After winning the toss, Jos Buttler decided to bat first, and his openers, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, made a fast start. The duo provided England with a solid foundation, adding 75 runs in just nine overs. Their aggressive approach put the Indian bowlers under pressure, particularly with Harshit Rana being taken for 26 runs in a single over, much to the dismay of the home crowd. England seemed to be in control during those early stages, but a dramatic shift occurred as the Indian bowlers tightened their grip.

The quick dismissal of Salt, Duckett, and Harry Brook brought India back into the contest, with the momentum shifting in their favor. Chopra criticized England for failing to capitalize on their strong start, noting that they squandered the opportunity to build a big total. As the match progressed, India made a strong comeback, and the pressure mounted on England’s remaining batsmen. While the early onslaught had given England hope, their inability to sustain it ultimately led to a collapse, leaving much for the team to ponder ahead of the next ODI.

Joe Root’s return to ODI cricket was a disappointing one, as he was dismissed for just 19 runs. While Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell managed to score half-centuries, their individual efforts couldn’t prevent England from being bowled out for 248 in 47.4 overs. Aakash Chopra, commenting on the performance, pointed out the irony of England’s batting effort, especially considering their jerseys prominently feature three lions. He humorously compared the team's batting display to the timidness of cats, highlighting the contrast between the expectations and the actual performance on the field. Despite some promising starts, England’s inability to build partnerships and capitalize on early momentum ultimately led to their downfall. This batting collapse left a lot to be desired and raised questions about their approach and consistency in the series.

"You opted to bat first after winning the toss and you are unable to score runs. Jos Buttler, of course, scored runs. Jacob Bethell scored runs, which is good news for RCB, but (Harry) Brook is still unable to see the ball," former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

"Harshit Rana concedes 26 runs in an over but he comes back and bowls very strongly. However, England's batting is a problem. They do make up for it in bowling, although I felt they were playing with a pacer short. The team is ordinary. They have three lions on their jerseys but they are meowing like a cat," he added.

Aakash Chopra highlighted England's ongoing struggles with the bat during their recent tours of India, pointing out statistics from their last three visits across all formats. He stressed that despite their aggressive approach, England has repeatedly faltered in India, failing to build solid partnerships and maintain consistency. Chopra also raised concerns over England’s tendency to fall short of batting their full quota of overs in limited-overs cricket. This inability to last the entire innings has become a growing issue for the team, particularly in the shorter formats, where maximizing every over is crucial. The former opener’s analysis painted a picture of a side that, while capable of explosive moments, still faces significant challenges when it comes to adapting and thriving in Indian conditions. England's lack of discipline with the bat on these tours has certainly raised questions about their approach and long-term strategies.

"You will be surprised if I tell you their situation. On their last three tours, which include Tests, ODIs and T20Is, they have been bowled out 19 times in 25 innings. Good batting surfaces. They are not playing on any turning pitches," Aakash concluded.