In this English grammar item on reported speech, choose the correct Indirect Speech form of the sentence: "Vaibhav said to me, 'We have to win this game.'"

Introduction / Context:
This question tests how well you understand reporting a sentence that contains have to, which expresses obligation. The direct sentence is: Vaibhav said to me, "We have to win this game." You must select the option that correctly changes the tense, keeps the idea of obligation and adjusts the demonstrative this game in indirect speech.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Direct speech: We have to win this game. - Reporting clause: Vaibhav said to me. - Reporting verb: said, in the past tense. - The pronoun we includes the speaker Vaibhav and the listener me.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase have to functions like a modal of obligation similar to must. In reported speech, have to often changes to had to when the reporting verb is in the past tense, to show the obligation at that past time. The pronoun we may remain we if the speaker and listener still belong to the same group in the reported context, such as team members. The demonstrative this in this game usually changes to that in that game to reflect the shift in perspective from direct to indirect speech. We normally introduce the reported clause with that after said to me.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, convert the indirect sentence back to direct speech. From Vaibhav said to me that we had to win that game, you change had to win back to have to win and that game back to this game, and add quotation marks. This produces: Vaibhav said to me, "We have to win this game." which is identical to the original sentence, confirming that the transformation is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A changes we to they, which creates a different group and misrepresents who has the obligation. Option C keeps have to instead of changing it to had to, ignoring the tense backshift with a past reporting verb. Option D changes both the pronoun and the tense, suggesting a group they that does not include the narrator. Option E changes the modal structure to must, which is sometimes acceptable in free writing but is not the direct and expected transformation in formal exam grammar. Option B aligns perfectly with the rules for modals of obligation in reported speech and is therefore correct.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to treat have to as if it were must and either leave it unchanged or shift it to must without considering the standard had to form for past reporting. Students also sometimes change the pronoun we to they unnecessarily, which can change the perspective of the sentence. Another pitfall lies in forgetting to change this to that. Always check modals, pronouns and demonstratives carefully when converting from direct to indirect speech.

Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech sentence is Vaibhav said to me that we had to win that game.