There is no damsel in distress in Sherwood Forest who needs a Robin Hood to rescue her. Instead, at nearby Trent Bridge, Nottingham, it will be the task of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri to redeem the reputation that has taken a lead-expected battering over the last few days.

From a purely statistical viewpoint being down 0-2 in a five match series does not point to a lost cause, but the lack of resistance from the world’s top Test side in the two matches, in which they have been beaten, points to a failure to come to terms with English conditions. It is true that other teams have also fared badly in the past, but there can be no valid explanation for the present Indian side looking so “under-cooked” and ill-prepared ~ unless that is seen as the flip side of being over-confident.

The skipper apart,t he batsmen have played pathetically, and the over-dependence on Kohli is palpable. Admittedly injury prevented Kohli from spending enough time playing in the county championship by way of preparation, yet what about the others who are lions at home but look like novices in England. Even though it has been an unusually hot and dry summer and while the wickets at Edgbaston and Lord’s did favour the staple diet of English seam, there has been no sign of the notorious green tops that have laid low so many of the world’s top batters.

The squad boasted three top-class openers, all three have been tried without much success. The middle-order has never shown signs of a fight ~ as the score-cards would confirm. The bowlers have done much better: Shami, Sharma and Ashwin have lived up to reputation. A pity that the slip-fielding has appeared sub-standard ~ another sign of poor preparation. Still, given the way the players are now pampered there can be no excuse for being under prepared.

The criticism from former cricketers, Indian and English, has been severe, but if that does not goad Kohli & Co to put their heads down to the job, little else will serve that purpose. What is required is not a miracle but determination, a determination not to allow achievements at home to create the false sense of invincibility that has often resulted in avoidable swagger. In short to forget what the advertising campaigns suggest and knuckle down to hard realities.

All is definitely not lost, tomorrow is another day. There is reason to hope that Kohli’s back eases, and the sun breaks through ~ literally and metaphorically. And for Indian cricket to shrug off some very poor performances and display the “steel” that is the hallmark of all true champions. Every true fan will wish the team a change of fortune that confirms that while form is temporary, class is permanent. To turn the tables on the “Poms” would be the sweetest song of the summer.