In the five Tests they have played on their tours of South Africa and England in the past nine months, India have scored more than 300 just once and have been dismissed for less than 200 six times. Their average total is 188.7.

India have passed 300 just once in their last five away Tests ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The reason for this has been the poor form of those batting in the top five apart from the captain, Virat Kohli. Kohli has got two centuries and two half-centuries, but there has been just one other 50+ score by an India batsman, by Cheteshwar Pujara in Johannesburg.

Virat Kohli has scored more than half of India's runs on their 2017-18 tours of South Africa and England ESPNcricinfo Ltd

While Kohli has averaged 52.60 over these five Tests, none of the other specialist batsmen has averaged more than 20.

No one has supported Virat Kohli on India's away tours ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The problems begin at the top. In their 10 innings in South Africa and England, India have lost a wicket in the first ten overs nine times. The highest opening partnership so far has been 50, at Edgbaston. While Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have been switched around at the top, perhaps the biggest disappointment has been M Vijay, India's leading run-getter on the 2014 tour of England. He has six single-digit scores in 10 innings.

M Vijay's scores on the 2017-18 tours of South Africa and England ESPNcricinfo Ltd

At No.3, Cheteshwar Pujara has gone past 20 just twice in eight innings. Pujara has managed to spend some time at the crease - he has faced an average of 57 balls per innings and has three times faced more than 80 balls. But he has not managed to capitalise on those starts and put pressure on the bowlers.

Cheteshwar Pujara has spent time at the crease but not got runs ESPNcricinfo Ltd

India's top order has struggled to put together partnerships. Of their 12 highest partnerships in their last 10 away innings, nine have included at least one player batting at No.7 or lower. The seventh and eighth wickets have actually produced more runs than the first three wickets put together. There have been just three 50+ partnerships between top-six batsmen.