Here's Why Virat Kohli's Men Faltered In Both Innings To Surrender The First Test To Australia

The first Test loss in Pune to Australia seems to be a reality check for India.

333 runs is no small margin and the hosts were left scratching their heads by the time the match ended in 3 days.

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Virat Kohli's men looked out of sorts in their own backyard and that too against a team which had not done well in the sub-continent in the recent past.

So what went wrong? They were the overwhelming favourites and yet Australia brushed India aside with ease.

Here's why it happened:

1. Failing to click in all departments

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The 19 Tests that India did not lose before this saw them being bailed out with either bowling or batting and sometimes fielding. On occasions all three departments fired and that proved to be a strong factor. But in Pune, their batting failed, the bowling did not do as well and the fielding was poor with some easy chances going down.?

2. Fatigue coming in to play

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Not that a crowded season should be used as an excuse, but at one point fatigue was bound to catch up with the Indians. They had played 14 Tests in the last 8 months or so and the pressure of too many games was bound to get to them sooner or later.

3. Rank turner backfiring on the hosts

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The Pune pitch was expected to help the spinners but who said that only the Indians would benefit? Steve O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon proved to be unplayable on the track and the Indians were found wanting against quality spin bowling. For the first time, the best players of spin looked all at sea as the ball turned and bounced all over the place.

4. Aussies did their homework

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The visitors studied their opponents well and also took adequate preparation before coming to India. They seemed to know exactly what was required for which player and by the time the match got underway, it was a determined unit taking on the No. 1 Test team in the world.

5. A hint of complacency

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When you have not lost your last 19 Tests and beaten your opponent at home in the last 7, there is bound to be a hint of complacency. Not taking anything away from Australia, but perhaps India were just expecting things to go a little too smoothly. When things did not go as planned, the hosts panicked and with no backup plan, allowed the visitors to dictate terms.