Indian middle-order yet again failed to get going in the ongoing Test match at Lord’s as Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were dismissed cheaply following KL Rahul’s sensational century at the 'Home of Cricket'.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman feels Rahane and Pujara are feeling the pressure of constant failure and have been under the scanner for over the past few months due to their poor performances.

“I just hope the outside noise is not playing on the minds of Pujara and Rahane. People think that experienced players can handle that pressure. With experience, I can say that probably the pressure in a lot more on experienced players. Every low score and failure will just add to that pressure,” Laxman told ESPN Cricinfo.

When asked about what he thinks is going wrong with Rahane, the right-hand batsman said, “We saw that even in Nottingham in the first innings, the way he was restless till the time he was there at the crease and then he got run-out.”

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“Whenever you are indecisive and and trying to look at the outcome, you are always reaching out towards the ball, especially when you are not high on confidence. That is exactly what has happened in Rahane’s case,” he added.

The former middle-order batsman then said that he thinks the duo will be disappointed by their dismissals due to repeated mistakes.

“Whenever you are indecisive and and trying to look at the outcome, you are always reaching out towards the ball, especially when you are not high on confidence. That is exactly what has happened in Rahane’s case,” Laxman concluded.

In this ongoing second Test match, Root remained not-out on 48 with Bairstow at the other end on 6 as England ended Day 2 with 119/3 in reply to India’s 364 runs.

(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)