#TFGtake: It's not the pitch that they wanted, demons are inside the Indian batsman's head

INDIA'S FIRST INNINGS total in the third Test against South Africa is by far the highest team total in this Gandhi-Mandela series. No, it's not 400. It's a paltry 215.

To say that both teams have struggled to get past the 200-run mark would be an understatement. The Indian management demanded rank turners to suit their spin bowlers, and their wish was granted. But the hosts have gone so far in their bid to strangle the Proteas with their spin threat, that they have almost forgotten how to bat on home soil. It is easy to blame the turning pitches that make batting look extremely difficult. And the Nagpur pitch is indeed one of the toughest to bat on. But that doesn't address the bigger problems the Indian team is faced with.

While South Africa's inability to play spin is a known fact, it is India's failure with the bat that has raised questions. Virat Kohli and co. have failed to bat to their potential so far, having gone in with an extra batsman in Rohit Sharma this time around. But all this has more to do with the lack of application and shot selection, rather than the pitch being bowler-friendly. If a part-timer like Dean Elgar can snap up easy wickets, you know it's poor batting and not really excellent bowling.

Before the third Test commenced, skipper Virat Kohli said that the debate on the pitches is overstated, and maybe he was right. In Mohali, Murali Vijay with his knock of 75 showed just how important it is to spend time at the crease and the runs will follow, despite batting on a spin-friendly wicket. On a dustbowl in Nagpur, Vijay was batting beautifully on 40 before a peach from Morne Morkel trapped him LBW. Barring him, none of the other batsmen has even tried to apply themselves and be patient in their approach. Hurried shots have often led to freaky dismissals.

The spin, the Turn, The Shimmy, The six - Vijay into the act #IndvsSA https://t.co/rvHkp1MhS7

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2015

Shikhar Dhawan looked like a shadow of himself in Mohali with a pair and in Nagpur, he was once again out of sorts. It's shame that the Bengaluru Test, where he scored a fluent 45, was abandoned. But Dhawan's patchy batting is a big worry for India at the moment and the southpaw has plenty to work on. Cheteshwar Pujara has got the starts, but hasn't shown the will to grind it out in the middle, something that he is known for. Ajinkya Rahane was positive, but misjudged a Morkel inswinger at Nagpur. Rohit Sharma never looked like he was ready to bat upon his return to the Test side. 

Harmer gets his first wicket. Traps Pujara lbw. #IndvsSA https://t.co/c2uehdChxS

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2015

But India's biggest concern will be their captain's dipping form. Kohli's tendency to fish outside the off stump and a wide stance has been interfering with his ability to bat well. His last eight Test innings amount to a total of 182 runs at an average of 22.75. For a batsman of Kohli's caliber, those are poor numbers by his own standards. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar analysed Kohli's weaknesses and his lack of balance at the crease moments before he got out in the same manner. 

Sunil Gavaskar delves into details of Virat Kohli's dismissal and gives a possible solution to the problem. #IndvsSA https://t.co/nceMWyFFAz

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2015

It was Kohli who batted for result-oriented wickets, but the Test captain needs to accept that it is the responsibility of the batting order to do well in order to produce results. The bowlers are doing their job, even if they're being assisted by the pitch. It is the batsman who needs to take onus for putting up a respectable score on the board, and then leaving it upto the bowlers. Maybe the Indian top order can take some inspiration from Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha, who played contrasting innings towards the end to push India beyond 200.