It’s Transition Time for Indian Test Cricket

Team India could not have asked for a more deflating – and demoralizing – build up to the much-hyped Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Austraila, beginning November 22. Almost everyone, this columnist included, had hoped that India would wallop New Zealand, which had come to the country fresh from a 2-0 rout at the hands of lowly Sri Lanka. Everyone had assumed that we would have assured ourselves a place in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) in England next June even before landing in Kangaroo country. No one could have imagined that a bunch of players with modest credentials at best – and without their best batter - could achieve what the all-conquering West Indies under Clive Llloyd in the 1980s or the mighty Aussies led by Mark Taylor at the turn of the century could do. A 3-0 whitewash was on everyone’s mind; but in favour of India, not the Kiwis. The end result, therefore, has come as a bolt from the blue and forced us to do a reality check.

It was hard to believe that it was the same side that thrashed the pompous ‘Bazballers’ from England 4-1 late last year and the hapless Bangladeshis 2-0 recently. Yashasvi Jaiwal, the great new hope of Indian batting, looked a shadow of the player who amassed over 700 runs against England not so long ago. Subman Gill, the other star young batter, played one fine innings of 90 in the Mumbai Test but looked highly vulnerable in every other innings. Sarfaraz Khan played one spectacular knock of 151 at Bengaluru and looked all at sea in every other innings. And what can one about senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli that hasn’t already been said? Their pathetic show and abject surrender across six innings, which fetched them a measly 91 and 93 runs respectively, was the most painful sight for the fans – and the most important reason for the whitewash. The call for their heads, therefore, cannot be dismissed merely as the expected outburst of a highly emotional and cricket crazy nation. For all you know, the two champion batters could still redeem themselves in the BGT. But if they don’t, it is unlikely that they would be on the flight to England next summer.  

While the batters collectively proved that they had forgotten the art of playing spin on a turning track, the bowler who, in the company of his spin twin, had earned us the ‘Invincible at Home’ tag over the last decade or so appeared to have forgotten the art of bowling on a rank turner. That Ravichandran Aswin was overshadowed by Mitchell Santer (13 wickets), who had never taken a five for in Tests, in Pune, by Ajaz Patel (11 wickets) in Mumbai) and by Washington Sundar in both these Tests, is a telling commentary on the decline of the once great bowler. If he is unable to take wickets in conditions tailormade for spinners, it is unlikely that he can do so in Australia and England, neither of which is exactly known as a spinners’ paradise. It is possible that the Test at Wankhede was his last Test.

But rather than wallow in despondency, it is time to look – and plan – ahead. Of the Fab Four (all of them 35 or more) – Rohit, Kohli, Aswin and Jadeja - only the last named looks fit and capable enough to carry on for a couple of years more. The countdown for the other three has clearly begun and the BGT could well mark their swan song. Let us be hard-nosed and accept that it is transition time for Indian cricket, at least in the Test format. Let us also admit that it is hard to find ready replacements for players of the class and calibre of Rohit and Virat. Even they didn’t become the batters they are overnight. Though he has been with the Indian white ball team since 2007, the ’Hitman’ did not make it to the Test team till 2013. As for Kohli, he announced his arrival in the Test arena in emphatic fashion only during the 2014 tour Down Under. So, give the new boys – the likes of Jaiswal, Gill, Devidutt Paddikal, Sai Sudharshan, Abhimanyu Earswaran and others knocking on the doors to flower and reach their true potential. Till such time, we must brace ourselves for a few losses, especially overseas, in the near future. Every team has gone through such transitional phases and there is absolutely no reason to feel despondent about the future.

(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)