India’s No.3 slot remains a chronic weakness they can’t solve through warmup matches. Afghanistan’s attack isn’t threatening enough to genuinely test candidates—playing Rohit’s preferred XI against a weaker side defeats the evaluation purpose. What matters: whether selectors finally commit to a long-term option or continue the carousel. This Test is window-dressing until India faces quality pace on bouncy pitches.

Dhoni’s mere presence can’t fix CSK’s broken middle order. The franchise leaned on nostalgia instead of addressing their collapse against SRH—a tactical failure, not an inspirational one. With Dhoni’s playing contract expired, his advisory role lacks teeth. CSK’s management is stuck between legacy worship and competitive reality. They need radical squad surgery, not stadium cameos, to salvage their season.

Gaikwad’s soft dismissal exposes CSK’s fragility against quality pace. Cummins’ three-wicket haul wasn’t lucky—it was clinical execution of a plan to target the skipper early. What’s overlooked: Brevis and Dube’s counter-attack masked a deeper problem. CSK’s top-order construction lacks depth against express bowling. Without fixing this vulnerability, they’ll struggle against Bumrah and Starc later. Their middle-order heroics won’t save a fundamentally flawed batting lineup.