Author: Bobji

India off late is confident of going in with just 5 specialist batsmen outside the sub-continent. It is something they have never done before the turn of the decade. If they are doing it now, ofcourse both Kohli & Shastri must be credited for transformational thinking, it is because of the batsman called Ravindra Jadeja. The consistency that Jadeja has shown over the last 4-5 years is outstanding. This blog is about Jadeja the batsman who transformed himself.

Jadeja always had potential. Remember, he has scored three triple hundreds in the Ranji Trophy. Granted that they were on the feather beds of Saurashtra and the bowling standards in Ranji Trophy is not that high. Nevertheless, to score one triple hundred is tough but to score three, surely, the batsman must have some quality in him. Jadeja possessed that quality. However, when he made his debut for India against England at Nagpur, it wasn’t for his batting. It was for his bowling and the perception that he can contribute with the bat.

Good support for Ashwin

Though he succeeded with the bat only intermittently, his bowling was too good to handle for a majority of the batsmen albeit in India. He proved an ideal foil for Ashwin. Hence, in India and in favourable conditions, he played as the second spinner behind Ashwin. However, every now and then, he showcased his potential with the bat. The onslaught against Anderson in 2014 at Lords is a prime example. It ensured that India won that test quite comfortably. However, it did not change the perception that he is primarily a bowler who if the mood takes on, can bat as well. Consistency with the bat or the lack of it was the main concern. Things however, began to change for Jadeja.

The start of Jadeja the batsman

The year 2018 proved to be a watershed year for Jadeja. It was the year when Jadeja the batsman came off age. The 80-odd that he scored against England at The Oval was the beginning of Jadeja’s transformation. It was a well paced innings with most of the runs scored batting with the tail. With a little bit of luck and support from the rest of the batsmen, Jadeja may have even gained lead in that game. This innings was followed by his very first test hundred against West Indies at Rajkot. Both the knocks signified that Jadeja the batsman has arrived on the big stage.

Even better year

The year 2019 was even better. There were multiple 50s and he ended that year averaging more than 60. Any specialist batsman will be pleased with such an average at the end of the year. During this time, he also contributed with the ball and thereby becoming the most valuable player of the team.

It became clear that overseas, Jadeja is the preferred spinner. Not so much for his wicket taking ability but for his batting ability. Around this time, he was bothered by frequent injuries. So much so that he missed a lot of games. One such tour was the Australian tour of 2020 when he broke a finger during the ODIs. He missed 3 of the 4 tests and had to leave mid-tour but not before he played a vital hand in India winning at Melbourne. He formed a partnership with Rahane that proved that he is not afraid of pace or bounce.

2021 England tour

Before the start of the England tour in 2021, there were lot of discussions in the media of whether Ashwin or Jadeja should be the lone spinner with a lot more tilting towards Ashwin because of his so-called variety. However, the team management of Shastri and Kohli were clear in their minds. They needed Jadeja to be the 6^th batsman and take advantage of a 5^th day wearing wicket if there were any. He played his part perfectly. Though big scores avoided him, he did play some significant knocks including a vital 40 at Lords that ensured that the team did not waste a wonderful start given by Rohit and Rahul. He formed decent partnerships throughout the tour.

2022 England test

Jadeja’s stocks have risen so high that it is no longer Ashwin or Jadeja. Jadeja has now become the default choice for number 6 and Ashwin is left fighting for a spot with Shardul. The innings at Edgbaston once and for all proved that Jadeja the batsman is here to stay. India were tottering at 98/5 and in walks Jadeja.

A record partnership of 222 ensued. Pant hogged all the limelight with his stroke filled hundred but Jadeja’s contribution wasn’t less significant. He allowed Pant to bat the way he wanted and kept his part of the bargain intact. The English were powerless to dislodge Jadeja. While Pant’s knock was full of audacious shots, Jadeja’s was serene. Him being a stroke maker, it would have been difficult for him to restrain himself after watching Pant at the other end. That he did, showed how mature has he become. He refused to match Pant and displayed lot of composure when he left balls alone. Broad, who is usually good against left-handers had to find other amenities for wickets. He will remember this hundred for the rest of his life. It came against England in their own country where Indian batsmen have traditionally struggled.

“I’m feeling really good, to do it outside India, especially in England to hit a hundred as a player is a really big thing. I can really take some confidence in myself as a player from this, to score a hundred in England, in swinging conditions, so yeah it feels really good. In England you have play close to the body. The ball swings here so if you look to play the cover- or square-drive there is a chance you can edge to the cordon. My focus was to initially not play at too many balls outside off-stump.

Anderson’s compliment

Anderson who has had his share of run-ins against Jadeja in the past has appreciated the changed Jadeja

“In the past he was coming at 8, bat with the tail so he had to chance his arm a little bit,” Anderson said, “whereas now at 7 he can bat like a proper batter. He leaves really well and made it difficult for us.”

Conclusion to Jadeja the batsman who transformed himself

That Jadeja is a gifted stroke-maker is known to everyone but this new Jadeja is making heads turn. The only problem is that he took too long to arrive and with advancing age, he will have to make up for lost time. Just like how he has improved his batting, if he provides vital breakthrough when playing outside the sub-continent, that will be the perfect icing on the cake.

India won with refreshing ease the T20 series against England. I must add that after the mauling in the final test, I thought we will not win even a single game during the tour. I was proven wrong. More than the wins, it was the refreshing Indian approach that merits attention as the T20 juggernaut moves onto the World Cup.

The world has moved on. Now, it is make merry while the field is in and continue with that. England have redefined the way white-ball batting must be played. Other teams, if they are adopting England’s belligerence through and through are atleast ensuring that the powerplay is utilised to the maximum extent possible.

The time tested method

India has been an exception on this front. Not for them the 0-60 in 3 seconds method. They prefer to take start slowly, preserve wickets during the new-ball, consolidate in the middle overs and then go for the jugular towards the end. To their credit, they did manage to win some games but have faltered when it matters. The innumerable number of ICC events being case in point. Matters were not helped because of the fact that India have often opened with Rohit and Rahul. Two batsmen who are loathe to take risks.

There were calls for the team to change this approach but the team remained steadfast in their belief. It required a defeat against arch-rival Pakistan in the 2021 World Cup to bring about the much needed change.

Introduction of new personnel

India went about trying various players and some of them have clicked. Surya & Ishan. Against England, Surya was in irresistible mood. The hundred in the 3^rd T20 will standout in the memory of everyone who has seen India play. It was not just extraordinary hitting but the shots were completely calculated. He is a certainty for the next few years in India’s ODI and T20 squads. It really is unfortunate that he has bloomed quite late in his career. Whatever time that he has, if he could bat like this, he is bound to win lot of games for the team.

Pant’s elevation is not correct

Though I will not support opening with Pant in the 2^nd and 3^rd ODI, atleast, the team management tried someone who can get going from the very first delivery. I have said this before and I will say this again, Pant is not that good a T20 player. Graeme Swann, while commentating during the Edgbaston test, made an excellent observation. After the punch of the backfoot of Potts went for boundary, Swann said that the same shot in white ball cricket will fetch one run. Therein lies Pant’s problem. He is forced to improvise and thereby throw his wicket away in trying to manufacture a shot that wasn’t there.

Every now and then, Pant needs a release shot that will fetch him a boundary. Otherwise, he becomes restless. With the field spreadout in the short format, it is not always that a punch will run to the boundary. Essentially, Pant does not have the temperament which is essential for ODI and more so, for T20.

The curious case of Ishan and Deepak Hooda

The other problem with Pant’s elevation is what to do with Ishan Kishan? He is someone who is not afraid to take chances during the initial overs. If he gets going, India invariably are ahead of the curve. It was really tough on the part of Ishan to be dropped after just one game. Deepak Hooda is another who is quite unlucky. Here is someone who had scored a hundred, albeit against Ireland and who had a good game in the first T20 dropped for someone who is struggling for runs. It is bit too early to say that Deepak will be able to ride the bounce on those Australia surfaces, though I expect them to be batting beauties, but it will be impossible to find out if he is not given enough chances.

The struggling Virat Kohli

It is tough to see Kohli, who once ruled T20 cricket, struggling for form. He tried to hit and that failed too. He is simply not in the frame of mind to be playing cricket at the moment ad needs a lengthy break. Perhaps, a stint in Ranji Trophy will change his fortune. The selectors will not because it will look like he was dropped on form. Instead, he must request for a break. Sehwag and Kapil Dev are correct when they said that non-performers cannot be kept in the team when there are performing youngsters.

Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel’s mixture of slower ones did not get the purchase on quicker pitches. At the IPL, the wickets being slow, his slower balls had that potency. On the Australian pitches, I am afraid he may not be that good.

The disappointment of Dinesh Karthik

DK as he is known as nowadays, was the bigger disappointment of all. 3 innings for 29 runs and a strike rate of less than 100 is not what he was signed up for. At Nottingham, the situation was tailor-made for him. He came in at the fall of Shreyas and with just 4 overs left, this is a situation where DK thrives but here he was found wanting. He didn’t score of the 3 deliveries first up and increased the pressure of Surya. DK is precisely in the team for his finishing role but in these games, he failed to live upto the expectation. With Pant opening, there still might be a chance for DK but the return of Rahul, Hardik, Deepak Hooda and Ishan may put paid to that hopes.

Conclusion to the refreshing Indian approach

Nevertheless, the Indian team have decided to change the approach completely which is music to the ears of the Indian fans. With Rahul’s and Kohli’s form dipping alarmingly, it remains to be seen how the team is going to approach the remaining games. In a top-order of just 4 specialist batsmen, it simply is not sustainable to have 2 searching for form.

Other topics

The disappointing Edgbaston Test part 1, part 2 & part 3

Swann about Chahal

Before reading the top and middle-order let India down – 3, please read part 1 & 2

Ravindra Jadeja

Probably the most improved batsman in the world. I will write a separate blog about Jadeja. In this test, he showed why he is preferred to Ashwin though it was never between Jadeja and Ashwin. I have always said that Jadeja plays outside of India as a specialist batsman. Everyone knows that his bowling is non-threatening in English conditions. He may take advantage of a 5^th day wearing pitch and that is about it. He paced his innings beautifully. The way he manipulated strike with the tail in the first innings was excellent. If only Pant had stayed with Jadeja, the lead could have been around the 450 mark.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur is not an express fast bowler. As such he can never terrorise any batsman with his pace. He is in the team in overseas conditions because he can contribute with the bat. If he fails with the bat and does not keep the economy rate down and provide breakthroughs, it is tough to justify his inclusion. After the enormous partnership between Pant and Jadeja, India needed one more partnership of 50-odd runs to establish authority over England. If only Shardul had stayed with Jadeja at the point, we may have well earned another 60-75 runs. A first innings score of close to 500 would have proved quite challenging but Shardul failed with the bat at the wrong time. Moreover, his bowling was not threatening and he missed an easy sitter of Stokes.

Shardul was the star performer earlier in the series and as such this one bad game should not invite condemnation. However, Shardul must realise that he is in the team for his batting as much as he is for his bowling.

In hindsight, would Ashwin had been a better choice than Shardul? Maybe may not be. The only reason that I am not able to emphatically say yes is the fact that there is no proof to the contrary. As Manjrekar rightly said, he is yet to take a 5-fer in the countries that matter. With age not on his side, it is anybody’s guess whether he will be able to correct that aberration.

Mohammed Shami

Shami is a brilliant bowler. We know that. Shami bowls some magic balls. We know that too. Shami makes the batsmen play more often. We know that one as well. Shami is unlucky. That is the problem. He is good and he does bowl lot of excellent deliveries but if they do not fetch frequent wickets, then there is a problem that needs to be identified. A couple of wickets in the second innings just when things started to look dicey for India, would have put the game firmly in India’s grasp.

His record in England is a major concern. Just 38 wickets in 13 tests, under 3 per test is not the expected return from the premier fast bowler. It is unfortunate that despite his obvious talent, he has often failed to deliver against the major teams. This is the 3^rd consecutive test that India failed to defend and Shami has a lot to contribute towards that dismal record.

One good thing about Shami is that he showed maturity while batting in the first innings. He gave adequate support to Jadeja which is good to see and he played the short-balls much better than Shreyas. He will have to work with experts and see where is he going wrong? Does he have to pitch the ball much closer or short? Is the length the problem?

Jasprit Bumrah

The captain played a blinder and absolutely annihilated Broad. Sadly, it was with the bat. With the ball however, Bumrah once again failed at the crunch. He is quickly becoming the Kohli of bowling. For someone this talented, his match winning feats are less. He is the most protected Indian bowler. He has played all but just 2 of the games outside India. Bumrah is often given a break from tests in India. It makes sense because his action is so irregular that over-bowling may result in an injury but being the bowler the opposition plays cautiously and being the premier Indian bowler, to have failed to defend scores in the last innings on three successive occasions, it really casts a big question mark on his effectiveness.

Whether all the pampering, is it really worth? The Edgbaston game was the 5^th time in the last 10-12 tests that Bumrah did not raise to the occasion. It includes the WTC finals in conditions that is any fast bowler’s dream.

Ofcourse, he picked up 5 wickets in the test but was still unable to break the Root-Bairstow partnership.

I have written that he is becoming the Kohli of bowling. Kohli is similar in the sense that when faced with a target to chase, this is about Test cricket only, he is unable to win the game with his bat. He had a couple of opportunities in South Africa in 2017 and a couple more in England in 2017. Bumrah had this one apart from the two tests in South Africa, the WTC finals and the 2^nd test in New Zealand. The last one was a long shot because the target was meagre.

One thing to note is that he is not the rabbit with the bat anymore.

Mohammed Siraj

Siraj usually is quite expensive. Even when he is among the wickets, he is expensive but even for him, this test would have been an awakening. He was literally taken apart by both Bairstow and Root. Towards the final stages, the way Bairstow toyed with him in the last over, any bowler would have been ashamed. These are early days and he has shown sufficient skill to become the mainstay but he must also realise that being the 3^rd choice bowler, his chances will be limited when India play at home.

Conclusion to the top and middle-order let India down

This was a golden opportunity for India to win a series in England. Ofcourse, not when they were 98/5 but once a lead of 134 runs was secured, India must have accelerated quickly and must have built an impenetrable position. The negativity of Pujara, Vihari and to an extent Kohli and Jadeja, the recklessness of Pant, the inability of Gill to make a rare opportunity count and the impotence of the bowlers in the final innings meant that India were lucky that they had an upper hand for more than 60% of the game. Remember, we played with one player less because Shreyas is literally a free wicket. By the next time, India go over to England, some of these players would have retired and whether we will get another chance in the foreseeable future, is doubtful.

Before you continue with the top and middle-order let India down – 2, please read part 1 here.

Hanuma Vihari

The one pair that everyone who watches the game dreads is Vihari and Pujara. It was on full display at Edgbaston. Both of them remained strokeless for a very longtime. They were intent on staying where they were without looking to score.

Vihari in particular is fighting for his spot. His meagre returns is not going to help him in any way. Looks like he wants to be a like-for-like replacement for Pujara. He must understand that the game at the basic level is about runs and wickets. He can stay on the wicket for as long as he wants but if the final return is not satisfactory, he will not last long.

Though Gill got out for a low score, there was a slight momentum in the first innings but Vihari completely killed it with his ultra defensive batting. With Pujara at the other end, it will not be wrong to state that India missed out on a good start in that passage of play.

Unless Vihari realises that he must also score runs, he will not be having a long career.

Virat Kohli

What can one say about the continued failure of one of the best batsmen? In both the innings, he was uncharacteristic. He must have learned from Bairstow and must have been positive. At the moment, he is extremely short of confidence. He does not know from where the next run is going to come. It is troubling for all the fans.

He desperately needs a break from the game. A very long break. Perhaps, a few Ranji games. In his current form, he is not of any value to the team. Having said that, it is really a miracle that he is still allowed to play without any retribution. His on-field behaviour has gone from bad to worse. Any other player from any other country, would have been banned multiple times. It is only the enormous power that BCCI wields that has saved Kohli all these years. It must stop and Kohli must pay for his boorish behaviour.

Here he was again at his worst. He abused Bairstow and was shown making fun of him after Bairstow failed to connect to a delivery. He even roped in the name of Tim Southee for no reason. In one shot, he insulted and abused both Bairstow and Southee. If reports are to be believed, he even threw an unparliamentary word. A word not becoming of a former leader.

Let us also remember that he was one of the trio who had that infamous combat with the stump microphone in South Africa.

What was the point?

What did he gain by abusing Bairstow? Nothing. Instead, Bairstow ended up with twin hundreds and Kohli was made to look like a fool. For someone who is unsure of his next run, it was childish to abuse someone who is redefining the art of Test match batting.

It is time the match referee takes serious offence of Kohli’s behaviour and hands over a substantial ban. Indian players who are already amongst the worst behaved is made to look horrible because of Kohli.

Shreyas Iyer

Free wicket. Nothing more needs to be said. It is hard to believe that Shreyas despite playing Ranji Trophy for so long, is a sitting duck against the short-ball. It shows how low the Ranji standards are that someone like Shreyas represented India at the highest level and has come a cropper.

From now on, in whatever format, he will be bombarded with bouncers and he will not be in any position to play them well. As Potts showed, not even a genuine quick is required to get Shreyas’s wicket. Potts bowled that delivery in the 2^nd innings at 127KMPH and yet, Shreyas wasn’t able to keep the ball down or hit over the fielder. There were and there will be batsmen who are suspect against the short-ball but if a batsman cannot play the short-ball at this pace, he probably is not fit for the international stage. He probably will go the way of Vinod Kambli.

However, the one sad thing in the whole Shreyas episode is McCullum. Here was the former coach of your franchise giving instructions to the England team to bowl 2 balls every over towards your throat and get you out. Ofcourse, being the coach of the team, he is perfectly entitled to and it is his job but the point is, towards the beginning of the IPL, when McCullum was the coach of KKR of which Shreyas is the captain, he would have known that Shreyas has a problem with anything above his hip.

McCullum, you could have worked on his technique

Shouldn’t McCullum as the coach worked on Shreyas’s technique and if not solve the problem atleast found a workaround? That is what is disappointing and it is similar to how Ricky Ponting predicted the fall of Prithvi Shaw in Australia a couple of years ago despite being the coach of Delhi for the last few years. These 2 episodes throw some light on coaching at the IPL. It is not taken seriously.

Rishabh Pant

An extraordinary hundred at more than a run a ball in the first innings when it looked like India will be bowled out for less than 150. Brilliant innings by all accounts. Pant continues to impress with his batting in Tests. This was his 4^th hundred in the SENA countries. Something none of the Indian wicket-keeper has ever achieved. Not even Dhoni. The maturity that he showcased on the wicket despite scoring quickly must be appreciated.

The selectors must ensure that the keeping gloves is never taken away from him. It is his asset and that allows him to play freely.

However, Pant wasn’t immune from blame. The shot in the 2^nd innings was outrageous. There is no point in stating that that is how he plays. No, he does not. He showed that in the first innings and in South Africa. There was absolutely no need for that shot. There was loads of time and he was aware that after him and Jadeja, it is only the bowlers who cannot be depended upon. As such, he must have ensured that with Jadeja, the score was propelled to impenetrable proportion. Instead, his tame dismissal not only applied brakes on the scoring but it left Jadeja without support.

Now that the test is lost, I hope that the Indian team in general and Rahul Dravid in particular, understands the importance of a proper tour game ahead of an important test. Not that, India would have won but atleast it would have given the batsmen a proper outing and would have had a much-needed red-ball practice ahead of the test. However, I am quite pessimistic and I do not think that the Indian team or the Indian board will learn from this mistake and will continue with their ways even in the future. A few tests at home against West Indies or Sri Lanka, all will be forgotten and forgiven. As for the loyal fans, we do not have any say and will have to continue to agonise over it. The top and middle-order let India down. I am not defending the bowlers either but they are less accountable.

India would have wished that they had completed the series last year itself. How times have changed?

First credit where it is due. Well done England. India had no chance whatsoever. You have reinvented Test cricket.

The batting coach blames the batting

Vikram Rathour, the Indian batting coach has blamed the batting in the second innings and rightly so.

“The plans didn’t work out,” Rathour said. “I’ll agree that we had a pretty ordinary day as far as batting is concerned. We were ahead in the game. We were in a position where we really could’ve batted them out of the game. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. A lot of people got starts but really couldn’t convert. We were expecting one of them to play a big knock and have a big partnership but unfortunately it didn’t happen like that.”

A lead of 134 must have ensured that the batsmen start on a positive note. Instead, Gill was out early and Pujara and Vihari, just as they did in the first innings, completely shut shop and never tried to score runs. Kohli’s and Shreyas’s continued poor form did not help and were bowled out for a paltry score. Looking at the pitch and the conditions, the Indians fell short by a minimum of 100 runs and the target should have been closer to 500.

The bowlers were at fault too

Nonetheless, 378 was still a substantial target and it must have been enough for the bowlers to defend. They failed spectacularly. It was not just the inability of the bowlers to defend close to 400 but the manner of the defeat that is unacceptable for the fans. With 1.5 days to go for the game to end, if one had expected that if England are to win, they will win in the last session and that chasing such a tall score, they would have huffed and puffed their way to the win but what transpired on the field was entirely different.

The bowlers were taken on a merry-go-round by England. They won the game so easily that beggars belief. They lost just the 3 wickets and except for one chance of Siraj, Root and Bairstow lived a charming life. Lees & Crawley, who usually get out as soon as play starts shared a 100 run opening stand at breakneck speed. It was not just the batsmen who let the team down but it was also the bowlers.

Now, let me analyse the individual performers.

Shubnam Gill

He is talented. There is no doubt about that. He has got all the shots. No doubt about that one either. He is comfortable both against pace and spin. No doubt about that one either. However, has he got the temperament to succeed at the highest level? That is a huge question mark. This was his 11^th test. Though he has four scores of more than 50, he is yet to score a hundred. It is not a cause for concern. He will surely get there oneday but what is of greater concern is that apart from that initial series in Australia, he hasn’t done his obvious talent the justice it commands. He has wasted most of the chances given to him.

With the return of Rohit Sharma and Rahul, Gill will again find himself on the sideline. He must have been aware of that fact but what makes his failure more worrying is that he didn’t even force the hand of the team management to think before dropping him. Now, it will be straight and easy swap once either Rohit or Rahul comes back. A 100 or even a 50 would have put the team management in a dilemma. Gill has only made their task easy.

Perhaps, he must be sent back to Ranji Trophy for a couple of years and rid himself of the T20 game.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara has once again confirmed that dropping him was a wise decision notwithstanding his second innings 66. All of us were highly impressed by the runs he scored in English County Championship. A total of 4 hundreds including a couple of double hundreds and a 170 not out and he was brought back into the team based on sheer weight of runs. The added advantage was that all those runs were scored in England and as such, he was expected to be the main batsman.

Yes, he was moved out of his favourite position and was made to open the innings. Not everyone who plays at number 3 is a natural opener but his form leading upto the game was excellent. Opener or not, he was expected to score runs. When someone is coming back to the team after being dropped based on performance, he will have to take whatever is available. However, his struggle in both the innings has once again proved that irrespective of the runs he scored for Sussex, when it comes to international cricket, he is still the same old Pujara.

Pujara the sloth

Exceptionally slow, devoid of strokes and unable to rotate the strike.

How long will he continue in the same vein? His method is not at all working. It is neither helping him nor helping the team. Yet, he is adamant that he will not change his approach. I still remember his press conference a few years ago in Australia where he said that he cannot score 200 every innings. This despite multiple failures before that.

On the first morning, he alongwith Vihari batted so slowly that the English bowlers settled into a nice rhythm that was enough to unsettle the entire top and middle order. I hope that his second innings of 50 do not save him from the axe. He deserved to be dropped.

Continue to part 2 & 3

“I’d sit down with Yuzi and I’d say, ‘What is it? Do you want to play red-ball cricket for India?’ If he does, I’d have I’d have him in the squad straight away. I think he is world class, he’s the best spinner in the world in my opinion. His control, bowling leg-spin in very tricky conditions, especially when that ball gets dew on it and gets wet, is incredible. There isn’t a more difficult place to bowl in the evening than in India.” These were the words of one of the top spinners over the last 25 years, Graeme Swann. Coming from someone of his calibre, it surely merits attention. Swann wants Chahal in Tests.

Why wasn’t Chahal even considered?

For some reason, the Indian selectors never thought it fit to include Chahal in the Test squad. His fellow wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav earned a call-up to the squad and has played in a few tests but Chahal is not even considered. This is despite the fact that most of the batsmen around the world struggle against quality leg-spinners. Even during the last series against England in India, when three spinners were required, it was Axar Patel who was chosen in the squad notwithstanding that Jadeja did not play in the entire series because of injury. Sundar who is more of a batsman than a bowler, played ahead of Chahal. It meant that the selectors do not think of Chahal as among the top 3 spinners in the land but you have someone like Swann who wants him in the test squad.

He also says that Chahal is the best in the world at the moment. I will differ on that statement. There are quite a few spinners who are better. Nathan Lyon with 400+ wickets will surely have something to say about it. Keshav Maharaj who is striking at more than 4 wickets per test will have something to say about it. He bowls mostly on the unforgiving terrain of the South African wickets which have usually helped the fast bowlers.

As Swann says, perhaps, Chahal himself does not want to play the red-ball game. Maybe he has informed the selectors not to consider him for Tests. Otherwise, there is no other logical explanation to his omission.

Eoin Morgan retired

It will not be an understatement to state that the current England approach to batting in Test cricket is inspired by Eoin Morgan. It was he who introduced this concept of all-out attack against the bowlers. The conditions, the pitch and the bowlers did not matter at all. All that mattered to him was a relentless assault on the bowlers thereby demoralising and deflating the entire opposition. Morgan did not inspire much confidence at the Test level but he underwent and took English cricket alongwith him through a drastic and immediate change that had repercussions throughout the cricketing world. Under him, the English team metamorphed into a colossus unit. It is another matter that he had the personnel to carry out his plan but credit must be given to him for giving the players the confidence to go out on the field and express themselves.

The nudge that England needed

Up until the 2015 ODI World Cup, England was playing a brand of cricket that had passed its sell-by-date. More or less like the India of now. They didn’t seem to realise that the fielding restrictions were more for the batsmen to score quickly. Instead, they prodded along. It took a knock-out blow from Bangladesh from the 2015 World Cup for England to question their approach to the white ball game. Until that point, England never gave that much importance to white ball but after that, they started to define how white ball cricket must be played. Morgan was at the forefront of this revolution. During one of the ODI against New Zealand, England was bowled out for 302 in 45 overs and thereby missed out on the last 5 overs but Morgan did not bother.

“It doesn’t disappoint me,” he said. “I want the guys to continue with that [attacking] mindset and not worry about batting 50 overs: I think that makes guys hesitate and question their natural way of playing and I don’t want that to happen.”

This simple episode goes onto show how Morgan changed the mindset of English cricket towards white ball cricket in general and batting in particular.

Morgan was instrumental in making the England players play in franchise cricket around the world. He reckoned that T20 cricket will help in his aggressive approach and as a result of that, every player who had participated in the IPL has gone on record that it helped them in their careers.

Morgan created great depth

Morgan was instrumental in changing the approach of the counties that provided the England team with great depth. Scoring rates increased to close to 6 from around 5.25. Last year, most of the first choice England players were sidelined because of Covid. Yet, a second string England team blanked a full-strength Pakistan 3-0. The depth has increased so much that Morgan himself became surplus to requirement. He sort of became a pariah because runs were hard to come by. He wasn’t able to command a spot in the team based on his batting alone. It left him quite vulnerable. There were murmurs about his position but he has chosen the correct time to end his career.

Morgan’s greatest moment

Undoubtedly, it was the 2019 World Cup. It was England’s first World Cup and Morgan was at the helm. It could not have been better scripted for Morgan to be the first world cup winning England captain, a man who changed the face of the game. Just because it was a World Cup, neither Morgan nor England changed their approach. They continued with the same aggressive batting right through the tournament. Only the medium pace of Grandhomme in the finals, slowed them down.

Conclusion to Swann wants Chahal in Tests and Morgan retires

I am afraid for Chahal, he has past his time. He is in his early 30s and with Axar Patel and Kuldeep ahead of the pecking order, his time at the highest level may never come.

As for Morgan, thanks mate for transforming the white ball game.

In over 30 years of watching the game, never have I seen a farce enacted than the tour game between India and Leicestershire. It really left me so angry that why do the ECB and the Leicestershire county even bothered to organise such a game? When will the Indian management realise the value of a proper tour game just before an important series? That too, this time, it is the decider between India and England. The game was so ridiculous that it was devoid of any convention. I wonder whether Rohit Sharma ended up captaining both the teams. What a farce the India tour game was?

Indian do not treat side games seriously

Indians are notorious for not treating tour games seriously. I have seen first-class games where the entire squad have played. 14-a side and 16-a side are quite common when the Indian team tours abroad. It is usually justified by reasoning that since there are only one or two games and that most of the regulars need to play, the entire squad is involved. Ofcourse, this reasoning is nonsensical. However, what happened at Leicestershire over the last 4 days was beyond nonsensical. It was downright outrageous. www.espncricinfo.com rightly termed is an open nets session and they had hit the nail on the head. I think that website was quite diplomatic in its assessment because it was beyond that.

A few years ago, when India went to South Africa chasing history, Kohli and Shastri decided to cancel the only practice game that was scheduled. Ofcourse, it was the stupid BCCI who had scheduled the entire tour after a Sri Lanka tour of India that finished barely a week before the first test but to cancel the entire practice game citing that tour games do not offer any benefit, was insensitive to say the least. India was soundly thrashed in the first and second tests.

They do not realise the benefits of such games and that too in the SENA countries. Within the sub-continent, it is absolutely understandable. Afterall, the conditions are the same everywhere and you do not really need a tour game. However, it is not the same once the team ventures outside the sub-continent. This is where tour games assume added significance. It will be helpful to play a couple of first-class games even before a test series in West Indies. The SENA countries are much more stronger than the West Indies and hence, practice games must be mandatory.

I did not expect this from Dravid

Now, of all the cricketers, it is Rahul Dravid who failed to see the benefits of a proper and intense practice game. Dravid is someone who has known the plan things in minute detail. The way he progressed through international cricket and became one of the best Indian batsmen ever, is a testimony to that fact. The innumerable number of battles in which he was involved, against the best bowlers of his time and the hours and hours of concentration during all those battles, will forever be etched in the minds of those who had the privilege of watching.

Before the tour, he was recorded as wanting an intense practice game. I was really hoping that after 2 months of IPL and further 2 weeks of South Africa T20, the Indian players, who are short of red-ball match practice, will be unleashed against Leicestershire and in the process will be in decent form ahead of the decisive test. With Dravid on hand to analyse the mistakes that are likely to have crept into batting and bowling, it could have been ironed out during the game. Dravid being a thorough professional would not have wanted anything less than high intense game. However, I was wrong. Dravid certainly disappointed in treating an important tour game as free for all.

How was the game reduced to a farce?

To begin with, on the first day itself, as many as 4 Indians were playing for Leicestershire. Pujara, Pant, Prasidh and Bumrah. Right at the outset, the impression that the Indians gave everyone was that this game is nothing more than a hindrance. They would rather be somewhere else than at the ground playing an English county team. There were 16 Indians involved in the game. It reflects poorly on the team management that they do not know their playing eleven 3-4 days ahead of the test. It must have been the best possible eleven who are likely to be playing on July 1, who must have played the game.

The game descended into further pandemonium in the last 2 days. At one point, Indians were batting and bowling at the sametime.

Prasidh Krishna bowled for both Indians and Leicestershire

Jasprit Bumrah bowled for both Indians and Leicestershire

Hanuma Vihari batted for both Indians and Leicestershire

Shubman Gill batted for both Indians and Leicestershire

If this is not farce, I do not know what is.

I really pity the spectators, if any, who had driven down to the ground to watch this buffoonery. How would the Leicestershire captain reacted? I will be interested to know his views on this utter chaos.

Why did ECB & Leicestershire accept this?

If I had been with Leicestershire management or with the ECB, I would not have accepted such a travesty. If I have to, then I will ensure that the England team is helped as much as possible. Bumrah would have bowled more than 40 overs so that he remains tired before the decisive test and I would not have accepted for Vihari or Shubnam Gill to bat for Leicestershire and thereby ensuring that they remain low on confidence.

Conclusion to what a farce the India tour game was?

India is leading the series 2-1. A win or draw will ensure that they win the series and gain valuable points and progress in the WTC cycle. A series win in England are not that easy. The last was in 2006 under the same Dravid. One would expect him to understand the sacrifices needed to win in England and towards that end, plan for a proper and fierce game but it wasn’t to be. It remains to be seen whether this missed opportunity comes back to bite.

It was a series in which results did not matter for the Indian team. Some of the first-choice players had taken a break from the series leaving the players who were on the brink of selection, to stake a claim. These I think are the takeaway for India from the T20 series.

Rishabh Pant is not a middle-order batsman

India, especially, Kohli and Shastri made the fatal mistake of thrusting Pant in at number 4 during the 2019 World Cup. It proved to be a disaster. He was all at sea that too at that stage, he wasn’t even amongst the regulars in the Indian test team. Yet, the team management thought that it was wise to send him in at that crucial position. Pant neither able to smash the bowling nor was he able to rotate the strike and he felt like a fish out of the water. I will not blame Pant for no-show because he was inexperienced and in the middle of the World Cup. Nevertheless, 3 years hence, he still is not a middle order bat. A quick 20s and 30s from your number 4 is hardly what is expected. The then management didn’t know and the current management do not want to accept reality.

Pant is not the captain in the making

Pant’s captaincy credentials is restricted to one IPL. H wasn’t able to lead Delhi Capitals into the playoffs despite having some terrific hitters in the team. He did not cover himself with glory during that stint. Worse, he was involved in an ugly incident when he recalled the batsmen in one of the game. It clearly showed that he cracks under pressure. Captaincy at the highest level is much tougher than IPL. For him to become the Indian captain, he has a longway to go.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s flop show

Much was expected of Gaikwad after his exploits in the IPL. He is thought of as someone who will play for the country for a very longtime. He can still accomplish that but he will have to improve his game drastically. IN 8 games so far, he has managed just one score of 50+. Playing in India and that too as an opener, he had all the advantages but hasn’t measured upto it. Now, he would have learned the vast difference between IPL and international cricket and will be better off from the experience.

Shreyas Iyer is on a difficult wicket

He has had a fabulous introduction to Test cricket but his T20 credentials took a nosedive during the series. 94 runs in 5 games at 123 just does not cut it. Moreover, his weakness against the short ball is now well established. The fact that the World Cup will be played in Australia where the ball will bounce a little more, he may have done his chances a terrible blow.

Indian bowling without Bumrah

Indian bowling without Bumrah to guide them, is really struggling. On absolutely belter surfaces, they need the batsmen to score more than 250 runs to be able to defend. The spinners were ineffective if there is no help for them. Both Patel and Chahal were all at sea during the first and second games when the wicket was flat but was much better in the next couple because the pitch offered a little bit of help. This does not augur well. The absence of one bowler must not affect the bowling this dramatically.

Dinesh Karthik’s continued success

It wasn’t always doom and gloom for India. Dinesh Karthik with his stated aim of representing India one last time, showcased his belligerence once again. For anyone who doubted him after the IPL, that includes this writer too, he has answered them emphatically. The 55 in the 4^th game of just 27 deliveries propelled India to a winning score. It will be safe to assume that without Karthik’s runs, India would have been incapable of posting a competitive score. He has more or less sealed his spot for the World Cup and in the playing eleven. He just may have edged out Pant if perception doesn’t play its part.  

Ishan Kishan at the top

Kishan’s carefree approach at the top is a refreshing change for an Indian team that is hellbent on playing percentage cricket earlier on not realising that the game has changed beyond recognition. Though Kishan’s strike rate against the faster bowlers was less when compared to the spinners, I will certainly have him open the innings with Rohit instead of Rahul. Rahul and Rohit are the same types of openers and India will always struggle to get a flamboyant start. Last year’s games against Pakistan and New Zealand are a testimony to that fact. For India to post large totals, Ishan must open with Rahul in the lower middle order.

Kumar shows his class

It is a folly to write Kumar off. He often proves that with his brilliant bowling. He went for just over 6 in most of the games.

“Bhuvi was special in this whole series,” South Africa coach Mark Boucher said after the final T20I, “and he put us under pressure in the powerplay.”

I will want to see Kumar partner Bumrah at the top. The tussle for the last fast bowling slot between Harshal and Shami.

The return of Pandya

When he is fit and wants to represent India, it is always a pleasure to watch Hardik play. India will be happy to see him bowl few overs without any discomfort. He also excelled in the finisher’s role. With Karthik and Pandya, India does possess the firepower to post substantial totals.

Conclusion to takeaway for India from the T20 series

There were quite a few positives from these games for India. What will rankle them is the fact that on placid tracks, the bowling cracks. It is left to the batsmen to score substantial runs or chase one. Another thing is that who will be preferred? Will Karthik play because of his form or will Pant continue based on perception?