Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0042
In respect to world sports, cricket has no importance at all compared to other games largely because number of nations participating in those games are much more and naturally those are more competitive, bigger, harder in nature. Cricket is mainly played still now most pathetically, amongst eight nations though fringe playing countries are trying to get a look in. But then if really the big brothers are considered, one will find only a couple of nations even amongst this tiny group of eight. Australia and England are still calling the shots though India claims to be a super power in the game. Admittedly winning the World Cup twice and T20 World Cup once have been achievements worth mentioning. But certainly this does not match the kind of adulation and hero worshipping that Indian cricketers get quite unnecessarily and is very much over hyped.
I am no cricket hater. Neither I wish to swim along the stream the way it is flowing. Then why today my topic of dispensation is cricket ? Largely because Indian cricket lately looks clue less and a ship without its Captain. Whimsical team selection, picking a strange final playing XI and direction less leadership without any inspiration. Secondly, another world cup is round the corner to be played in Australia in October, 22 where India will be vying for honour.
Playing in England attracts a completely different arrangement. Playing in Australia again calls for yet a vastly different strategy for teams. One will have to suffer ingloriously if proper and adequate protection in terms of team selection and playing strategy is not chalked out well before the tournament starts. Specially the format being the shortest of the versions, one has to be very particular not to make any mistake. Actually there is no room for any mistake at any stage of the game in this format.
While England offers seaming greenish wickets with lush green outfield with inclement weather and smaller boundary area, Australia offers hard, fast wickets with very large boundary area and imposing spectators stands all around. That is awesome for any first timer. Many a time a fielder lost the sight of skier against the massive spectator stands. It is challenging. It is combating.
Strangely, India enters every such International tournament as one of the favourites. But on record, India has failed to win any ICC championship during last nine years when in 2013 they last won the ICC Championship Trophy under MSD. Quite a lot have happened in between with change of guard as coaches have come and gone and captains also have come and gone. But hope has remained as hope. Nothing really have improved as far as Indian cricket is concerned in the face of International cricket.
Lets look at the current scenario. Due to injury India’s best pace bowler Bumrah is rested but the second best Shami has also been omitted ? If you can not play your second best pace bowler in an ICC Trophy, then when he will play ? Dipak Chahar another volatile pace bowler was not included too ! There was no room for India’s fastest Umran Malik ! Strange ! If he is not played for 4 overs a match then how he will blossom ? Instead, rookies like Arshdeep and Abesh Khan played with Bhubaneshwar Kumar who is on sight going slower and slower. With that pace, one can not be expected to succeed at International level.
If Ravindra Jadeja is injured obvious replacement would have been Axar Patel. But team played another rooky. When Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathy, Sanju Samson are available besides Shikhar Dhawan, why you continue to play K L Rahul when he seems to be horribly out of form ? What Dipak Hooda’s role was in the XI when Dinesh Karthik was sitting in the bench ? Firstly the team selection by selectors have been awful. Secondly, selection of playing XI has been atrocious. As a result, India is out of Asia Cup. No wonder.
If India has to perform well in Australian bigger, harder grounds in October, Shami, Dipak Chahar must partner Bumrah while Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, must be in consideration along with Suryakumar Jadav, Rohit, Virat, Hardik and Dinesh Karthik. Rishav Pant is always an enigma with huge talent. If Jadeja is fit he should be automatic choice, else, Axar Patel should partner Yajuvendra Chahal in the spin department.
There seem to be a very lukewarm leadership from Dravid. As he played his own cricket the way he liked, it seems that he continues to handle the current team to let it move on its own without much interference ! But then as manager / coach of the team, onus is on you to find out the right and winning combination. Like his own, Dravid’s team’s body language also does not project anything positive.
More energetic, positive vibes be introduced in to the team with perfect playing XI. Then only we may hope for better future.
Lets see.
