Our batsmen were nervous and I cannot fathom why

The fightback that the Indians produced was extraordinary. I never expected them to put up such a fight whilst defending such a low total even if I did expect the class of Rahul Dravid to come through whatever the situation, writes Kris Srikkanth.

The atmosphere at Edgbaston on Sunday was electrifying and so was the cricket. The colourful fans of both teams got their money's worth for sure. The fightback that the Indians produced was extraordinary. I never expected them to put up such a fight whilst defending such a low total even if I did expect the class of Rahul Dravid to come through whatever the situation.

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The Indian batting was pathetic for most part. It is one thing getting out to good deliveries but it is altogether different when one walks in to bat as if he has already been dismissed in the pavilion itself. I cannot understand how people as experienced as Ganguly, Laxman, Sehwag and Yuvraj can play such atrocious shots.

That they were nervous was clear on the faces but why, I cannot fathom. After all they have all played against Pakistan often enough now to be able to handle the additional pressure that these encounters throw up. Let's also give credit to the Pakistan bowlers. They all bowled a superb line and had obviously done their homework.

Sehwag was not given any room to cut while Yuvraj was fed outside the off and gobbled up behind the stumps once again. The Pakistani bowlers fed nicely off the pressure the Indian batsmen had put on themselves.

And but for the great rearguard action led by Rahul and supported so well by Agarkar, they would probably have bowled the Indians out for less than 150. To put on such a show on a dry, slow surface -- well suited for batting -- was remarkable.