Pandya has brought this forum back to the ground. I've always said he's a quality player. Nice 5-for for him to silence the critics.
England have picked an awful team and are getting punished for it. Jennings has no right to be here: out of his depth in test cricket with the bat and poor in field. Pope is batting in the wrong place: Senior players haven't stepped up. He's only batted number 6 for Surrey in his career, yet being asked to bat 4 for England.
England have a specialist batter at 7, which is in my opinion ridiculous. England more so when 20 year old in Pope is being asked to bat out of position, yet the vice captain is hiding away sheepishly at 7 away from the new cherry. It could easily be argued Woakes has panicked being shoved at 8, when in reality he's a better bat than Stokes and Buttler long term in these conditions (and the stats prove it)
Stokes isn't good for the mentality of the team on or off the field. They are clearly mentally not all there for this game. Stokes has failed now with ball and bat in the game. A ridiculous inclusion over a 20 year old left armer who provides variety and youth to the side. If Stokes did play then logically he had to remove Buttler, a specialist bat at 7 - a role only created for Buttler and the most ridiculous role of all in a test match for a player that isn't a gun fielder either (in my opinion)
Broad is also scared of the cricket ball and should be batting 11 behind Anderson. Despite Anderson's lack of ability with the bat, he does give it the best he's got and actually has a huge amount of not outs in his last 5 or so tests.
Rashid is another questionable pick. The captain is afraid to bring him on early. Root is an awful captain, especially bat at using his spinners. Then there's Rory Burns waiting in the wings who would be a better opening bat than Jennings and a better captain than Root. I would like Burns in with cap and Cook vice cap to guide him. Root is a hopeless captain with no authority and the whole boat needs to be hit with a huge force to rock it as England are extremely complacent and childish with their selection and team dynamic.
As for India, they have done well in the game and punished England. I would have liked for Kohli to make the hundred, but he didn't. Broad ought to lose the new ball to Woakes, but that continues to not happen in these conditions (Due to Root having no authority in the side). I think if one player was due a 5-for it was Pandya who does always give it his all, but not in a way anywhere near as annoying as Stokes.
England are in big trouble in the game and I can't really see them turning it around. If India get more than about 120 it's curtain for England I reckon. England are in big trouble and need a magic spell from Broad and/or Anderson and Woakes now to pull them out the crap. Woakes ideally needs to take the new ball, but I'd imagine Root is too scared to remove the new ball from Broad. Broad's sweet spot is after the new ball as I've said so giving him the new one tends to hold him and Woakes both back. I do hope Broad can pick up some early wickets however...