We the supporters of Indian cricket, demand action be taken against the players and also against the board itself. Losing a home Test series 0-3 is a shame. This is not something that can be erased from the minds of all those supporters who oversaw the happenings at Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai. It is a tough pill to swallow. This must not go unpunished. We want to see action taken that must have great ramifications across the entire spectrum of the game in the nation. It has been a couple of days since the humiliation but it just refuses to go away. We the supporters are ashamed humiliated and dejected. Ofcourse, it is only we who feel this way. For the players, they do not care. They have their IPL contracts that runs into multi-million and are happy to represent their respective franchises.
Everyone’s future is secured and playing for the nation is just a distraction. Given an option, they will all be happy to just play for 3 months in the IPL and then wait for the next season. Also, go around the world like a bunch of mercenaries and play in all the leagues across the world. Why do even play for the nation and betray the trust of over a billion by playing atrocious cricket?
This Indian team is an embarrassment. They do not have any shame of losing. Afterall, the captain himself said that it is alright to lose one series in 12 years. When the captain has this attitude, what impression has he sent to the team? Do not worry over a loss, however humiliating it could be. This is just a game and there is always another game waiting. If not that one, the next one until IPL is upon us.
The stupidity of the BCCI
What was the hurry in announcing the squad to tour Australia? The Indian team have just surrendered a series after 12 years. There were multiple non-performers. Some of them have been failing for an eternity. Yet, the BCCI went ahead and announced almost the same set of players for the tour of Australia. What was the tearing hurry? Couldn’t it have waited until the series was finished? Or, did the board not cared about who performed or who didn’t in the series? BCCI is never known for announcing anything well in advance. Usually, we will not come to know the dates and the venues of the games until a month to go. Why rush now? The selectors and the entire BCCI, were they supposed to go on vacation that the squad must be announced?
Even if they have announced that the squad will be known on a particular date, what stopped them from postponing it? They were aware that the team was performing miserably on the field. Some of the skills and techniques were clearly exposed by the New Zealand bowlers. Shouldn’t they have waited for the series to be finished and take necessary action against the non-performing players? If the same funds and resources were in the hands of Australia or England or South Africa or New Zealand boards, their team would be the best in all the formats forever. It is only because of the board that the Indian team is not considered.
The mega failure of Kohli
Having announced the squad, the BCCI says that it will take strict action against the senior players who underperformed. It seems that the future of Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja and Ashwin will be decided after the Border Gavaskar trophy. Why? It is because the squad has been announced already. This is just a bilateral series. There is no rule that states that squad once announced for a bi-lateral series, cannot be changed. It is only for ICC tournaments where once the squad is announced, barring any injury or personal reason, a player cannot be withdrawn.
I demand both Kohli and Rohit be withdrawn from the squad to Australia and replaced with Pujara. Kohli, especially, has been living off of his brilliant batting till 2019. How long will that credit last? For 5 years, his contribution can be ignored because it is not significant. This is in terms of Test cricket. Numbers do not lie. Over the last 5 years, his average is less than 30. There was a time when it touched 56 but now, the average is in danger of falling below 40. He has become a sitting duck against spin. This flaw has been in his batting for a very longtime. Yet, he hasn’t addressed it properly. Probably, he has become so arrogant that he thinks his batting is perfect when it is not.
It has been 12 years since he played in Ranji Trophy. He started disrespecting the game and the game has come back to bite him in the back. It is too late now. He is already 35 with not much cricket left in him.
The careless Rohit
Rohit’s shot in the second innings at Mumbai, showed how little he cared about winning. A careless hit against Matt Henry that landed safely in the palm of a fielder gave a much needed filip to the New Zealand team who were trying to make early inroads. Just 91 runs in 6 innings, more often than not, playing lethargically, I mean, if he is not interested, why waste his time and our time? He could very well retire from the game and play in the IPL for his beloved Mumbai.
On a pitch where the bounce cannot be trusted, what sorts of shots did he play in all the Tests? It clearly shows that he is not equipped for this level. Sometime ago, I wrote how much he has improved in Test cricket but now, he has gone back to the old Rohit who was always lucky to be in the team.
When Pujara and Rahane could be dropped and rightly so, why can’t Rohit and Kohli? What is the obsession over these that they are treated so kindly? India as a team will not progress unless this infatuation with stars diminishes.
Wrapping up ashamed humiliated and dejected
I will continue with my whining in the next blog.
Other blogs about the series
https://icricketcritique.com/from-euphoria-to-misery/
https://icricketcritique.com/46-was-a-gigantic-hole/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-first-test-debacle/
https://icricketcritique.com/a-proud-record-crashed/
https://icricketcritique.com/a-proud-record-crashed-2/