Before the start of the Pataudi Trophy, India coach Ravi Shastri had told the Times paper in England: "The goal for our team is to be the best travelling team in the world." Nobody can deny Shastri's vision and bravado, but two Tests and India are already facing the prospect of losing back-to-back away series.

India are so far behind the eight ball that even minor misjudgments in team selections — batting, bowling or fielding — could result in going 3-0 down in the series. India have created conundrums on their own and even Shastri admitted that they got the team balance wrong at Lord's.