Indian cricket is at the crossroad. Far too many aged cricketers whom the Australians would love to call Dad’s Army and very few youngsters who will go onto have a productive career. Some of the seniors are clinging on just because of their past exploits. With the WTC cycle between 2021 – 2023 complete, it is time to blood youngsters who may carry the torch of some really good players. The new WTC cycle starts with a series against the West Indies. The pitches in the Caribbean are not expected to be quick and it could be the ideal starting ground for the youngsters. Towards the end of the current WTC cycle, more than half of the current cricketers who represented the team in the last finals, will be 35 and above and their agility is bound to decrease which will make them a liability. The future of Indian cricket.
Does the selectors even have a succession plan? That is the pertinent question that needs to be raised at the moment. The recall of Rahane for the finals and the recall of Pujara before the Edgbaston Test in 2022 signifies that the selectors are actually clueless. What was the point of bringing them back after they were dropped about 6 months ago? Most of the times, selectors have like there aren’t enough talented cricketers on this land.
The experienced seniors
For now, atleast, Rohit Sharma is hanging by the thread. He is the captain though who just lost the WTC without a semblance of a fight. He probably is the most consistent batsman in the Indian team. I have set the standards very low. Anyone with an average of close to 40 over the last 4 years is consistent because the rest, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane and Gill hardly scored any. He is injury personified and missed a large part of 2022. At the most, he has only about a year left in international cricket. It is difficult to see him appear for India beyond the South African tour. As for captainship, the ODI World Cup in October will be his last.
Pujara, for all his exploits in the English County Division 2, his days as an international cricketer are behind him. Let the selectors not be fooled because of the tons of runs he makes for Sussex because the standard of Division 2 is poor. At Edgbaston, he was hardly able to get the ball off the square despite amassing runs for Sussex just a few weeks before the Test. He should never have been selected. Instead start performers in Ranji Trophy could have been given the opportunity.
The non-existent middle order
Rahane came back into the squad based on his exploits for CSK in the IPL. It really is a pity that IPL has now become the yardstick to select players for Tests. It should never be the case. Performance in Ranji or Duleep Trophy, which are proper 5 day games, must be the criteria. Having said that, Rahane was in good form in those games but what was the point of bringing back a 34 year old? How long can he continue to contribute?
Kohli is clearly on borrowed time. 4 years of absolute lacklustre performance. The phenomenal 4 years between 2014 and 2018 is keeping things ticking for him. He is clearly struggling to get out of the rut. I have always been a supporter of Kohli being given an extended run despite his lean period. However, that has now grown thin following the miserable WTC game. When his contemporaries, Root, Smith, Williamson et al are scoring runs for fun, Kohli seems to be fighting his own self. He is clearly shot of confidence and is unsure where his next run is going to come from.
All the above seniors must be clearly told that their selection from now on, will be on case-by-case basis. They need performance to carry them and not their reputation.
Captaincy conundrum
Rohit Sharma with his lack of fitness is clearly not my choice for captain. Right after the game against Australia, Rohit must have been removed and instead, Ashwin must have been made the captain. Why? Ashwin is a certain starter in the West Indies. Not for nothing is he known as The Professor. He is a good, thinking cricketer who always strives to improve his game. After Kohli, Ashwin must have been made the captain. Ofcourse, there were question marks over his place in the eleven outside of the sub-continent but he would have offset that with his skills as captain. He can contribute for another couple of years. Something that cannot be said about either Rohit or Rahane. He will be the ideal transition captain. If left to go abegging, India will lose the services of Ashwin the captain just like Australia lost the services of Warne the captain.
As for the longer term, I do not think Gill or Pant or for that matter, even Bumrah is the choice. The selectors must invest on someone who is good captaincy credentials. Ofcourse, it is not possible to have someone just for his skills as captain.
The seamers
Bumrah has been out of action for almost a year. His back is finally giving up after years of toil. Yes, Bumrah has been treated with kid’s gloves and has he really repaid that faith? It is doubtful. He plays every game in the IPL but selectively for India. He has certainly frustrated as a bowler. Shami is 32 but is frustratingly inconsistent. He does not really run through the sides as his bowling should. Siraj is bowling well and will probably spearhead the bowling in the short future.
Who after Jadeja & Ashwin?
Ashwin and Jadeja have been India’s match winners in the sub-continent for a very longtime. They have knee problems and as such are not expected to be around for more than a couple of years. Axar Patel, though good with the bat, cannot be the ideal replacement. Are there any spinners in Indian cricket?
Wrapping up future of Indian Cricket
It is time almost all of the seniors are let go within the next couple of years and youngsters are selected to replace them.