Last time, I felt like this was when Virat was still not a father, the Covid second wave had not ravaged the hinterland of India, and Rishabh Pant was still not a regular in the playing 11 of the Indian Test Team.

I am talking about the Adelaide debacle - the 36/9.

But this time around, it is different - it happened thousands of miles away, on a small island, during the English Summer.

I can’t tell you for how long I had been waiting for the 18th of June - and it came finally. But after a week - this morning, I feel hopeless.

There is a thing common about Big Games. You come across people who prove to you - what it is to play the game when the chips are down. What it is to weather storms and waves which you haven’t seen in your life. What it is to play in conditions unfavorable to you.

VK - King Kohli is the king of cricket for some. And they are allowed to have an opinion, but so do I. King Kohli has an uncanny knack for hanging the boots when it matters the most. King Kohli gets dismissed cheaply in games that actually matter. King Kohli - forgets to bat in big games.

Rohit Sharma - the Sharmaji ka beta, has been brilliant in the last couple of tests. He is duly living up to the role given to him - to bat at least 20 overs - to put the bat on the ball, to make the ball a little old - to take the shine off the ball. If an opener shows intent and also bats for the first 20 overs - he has played well.

Gilly boy - you do have to go a long way. You have to learn a lot about how to read the length and pace of deliveries.

Pujara sir - staying on the crease for so long. Spending time in the middle and then not attacking the bowlers - and getting out to an odd one is not fair to the team. We know that your vigil counts - but sometimes, it is not only about the vigil. The only scoring shots you played in the whole test were - cut shots on either side of the point fielder. Expected better from you.

Rahane - Baba, you have centuries in every away country. I don’t have an issue with the way you play - but with the way you are getting out. In the first innings - you were set up by the Horse Wagner - you were being shorted, and then there you go - trying to push it to the fine leg - you nicked it to the fielder at short square leg. The dismissal in the second innings was even worse - NZ had a general technique to bowl on the leg side - if you don’t attack it and try to play it fine all the time - you will get out once in a while. Why the hell did you glove a delivery going down the leg?

Pant - I like your intent kid - not much you could have done. I and my friend were watching the game and thinking - can they send Pant to open in the second innings, coach Shastri must have also thought the same, but that was not to be. Showing intent is the name of the game - taking them on is the game. Well played. Not your day kiddo.

Jadeja - sir, what the fuck were you doing on the pitch? Staying on the pitch makes sense in tests but sometimes - you have to play the situation. You didn’t play the situation. A barrage of short balls and you were castled. You could have attacked more - like literally.

Ashwin - well played mate. I wish you could coach the team on ‘mental seasoning’. Half of our team doesn’t know how to play the situation.

Shami - well-played man. You are a bloody unlucky guy. I still find it difficult to believe that you don’t get enough wickets.

Bumrah - you oughtta play better, brother. Or else this English series could be your last one. Just sayin’ - yorking folks in the white-ball game is one thing - and in the red ball is another.

Ishy - Show some magic mate. Show some magic. Get something out of the pitch please.

Bye for now. Well played NZ and KW and team.