By Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0095
Can we not view or visualize the Sun has risen behind the high mountain piercing the darkness of night to flood Indian Cricket with its unabated power, strength and energy! Can we then attempt to compare the Oval Test win with any other previous win that India had the glory to treasure ? Perhaps that will be unfair for this young bunch of talented cricketers led by even a younger captain and that too for the first time on English soil ! Imagine, the pressure situation of millions of cricket lovers’ eyes were on them. It was not easy, not easy at all. Those who have played any game at some level, they will know how difficult it is to perform in front of such a huge platform !
The series leveling 5th Test match at the Oval is just over with a nail biting win finish by India. In my following / watching the game last 65 years, this one at the Oval will remain for ever as exciting and as nerve racking as any, played over last two centuries. Comparison with India’s win against Australia in 2001 at the Eden or any other great wins will not be fair. At a time when T20, 50 overs ODI and now The Hundred coming in to jam the puritan eyes, this series in 2025 between England and India, finishing all five Tests on the very last day will remain as the ideal testimony to the traditionals that Cricket means Test Cricket in white/ cream flannels, on a misty morning with cloud cover overhead, moist out field and grassy wicket. Not surprisingly, wickets in this series have been ideal for good batting and there had been lot of buys for pace bowlers, not much for spinners. English knew, that in Jadeja, Sunder and Kuldeep, India had a deadly trio. To make them inactive, wickets were prepared that lasted well deep into the fifth evenings but in the process, India could not accommodate its match winner Kuldeep in any of the Tests. Fair enough for England, if they don’t cry when in India, playing on turners, to capitalize India’s strengths.
Playing on English conditions have always been tough. The class acts of Jaiswal, Rahul, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Sunder apart, the rest had gathered huge experience which must stand them in good stead playing on home wickets against South Africa and New Zealand later this year. In the hind side, if we may reflect, we find the emergence of a pace trio of Siraz, Krishna and Akashdeep who all moved even the 80 overs old ball sharply. No disrespect, yet we must not continue to crave for Bumrah, Shami as they had their time. They still have but not as regularly as it was. Rather, the trio named above have quickly learnt to shoulder more responsibility in the absence of their senior colleagues. Besides there are 3/4 more pacers waiting in the wings who may come in any day on favourable conditions. That is big plus from this series.
Sunder has come of age with bowling and batting. Importantly, he is unflinching in attitude and in company of Jadeja, they may form a lethal combination on home wickets along with Kuldeep. As a batter, Sunder’s emergence perhaps is a very high point that has happened. No word of praise will be enough for Jadeja, – the dear Jaddu to all – who now ranks amongst the best all rounders along with Ben Stokes in world cricket. In this series, India’s lower middle order often stood like rocks that helped India sharing the series.
Dhrub Jurel’s keeping in the 5th Test has been outstanding. Special mention must be made about his saves of quite a few byes behind the wicket on the dying moments of the game. If one of them had slipped, India would have been in dire straits. His batting has a stamp of playing within the ‘V’ like Nitish Reddy who is also surely set to make come back in longer format of the game soon.
As we see the gain side of Indian cricket, the most silver lining has not yet been mentioned. He is Captain Shubman Gill. As a batsman, his phenomena is sure to remain as a technically correct batter. He has all the shots in his armoury – cover / extra cover drives. straight drives, square cuts, pulls, lifted drives, everything that he executed with such ease and in such fashion. 754 runs in the series will make him a more matured batter on easier conditions. But what has been most impressive is the fact that India has got at last a Cricket Captain who is so cool, calm and easy mannered even under huge pressure situations that must take him a long way to captain in all formats of the game that India will be playing. Having such a nice, charming demeanor with poise and loving approach on field reminds us the old silken days of Tiger Pataudi or more recently that of M S Dhoni. Remaining calm and cool in pressure situation is the stamp of authority and command. Investment in Shubman has perhaps been the greatest contribution from BCCI to Indian cricket.
Workload Management is done in all games by all countries. No harm. No malice. But, when the country is desperate to have its best XI to be fielded to try and restore parity, then, some kind of compromise formula must be evolved out. Rigidity has no place in a winning combination. The more flexible you are, chances of better performance will increase. Only good, astute leadership will show the way. A little stat of performance in this series below will suffice the Power of Indian Cricket.
– 754 runs by Gill.
– 532 runs by Rahul.
– 516 runs by Jadeja.
– 479 runs by Pant.
– 411 runs by Jaiswal.
– 284 runs by Sundar.
– 23 wickets by Siraj.
– 14 wickets by Bumrah.
– 14 wickets by Prasidh.
– 13 wickets by Akash Deep
– 7 wickets by Jadeja
This could be possible when a Team performs. A great example is the present Team India who must rank amongst the best if nurtured and handled with care and encouragement. Indian Cricket has one leader on field. They need one more leader behind the screen who will remain the guiding motivator to this young bunch.
Better days are ahead for Indian Cricket.
concluded
