India lost the ODI series quite convincingly but really had to struggle to win the test series. At one stage, it looked like the test series will be drawn with both the teams winning one game apiece. If not for Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer’s composure, it could have been true. This blog is about the Indian perspective of the India vs Bangladesh.
Where there any gains for India?
The batting of Shreyas Iyer against spin and Shubnam Gill’s first century. Shreyas showed the value of Ranji cricket in his short international career so far. He is still a suspect against the bouncers but his handling of spin is of the top drawer. It was really disappointing that Iyer wasn’t adjudged the man of the series. He deserved that. Yes, Pujara was the highest run getter but Shreyas was at the wicket in the nail-biting second test when India chased a modest target with great difficulty. Pujara’s hundred was when India were well ahead in the game. The adjudicators got it all wrong in this instance.
Shubnam Gill finally came off age with his maiden hundred. It surely is the first of many. He is talented enough to play for the country for a very longtime. However, his consistency and failure to convert starts into something substantial is what he needs to guard against. If he can improve significantly on that front, India will be having an opener for the long run.
Ashwin’s batting is another positive for India. He must realise that he is in direct contention with Jadeja for a spot in the eleven. Jadeja is streets ahead of Ashwin when it comes to fielding and batting. Ashwin, who has always been a capable batsman, lost his way in the middle of his career. He has again started to focus on his batting and it is showing in the results.
Kuldeep’s match winning spell is another gain. Having come back into the side after being forgotten, it was nice to see Kuldeep among the wickets. India is lacking a leg spinner and if Kuldeep can build on this and improve his confidence, he can be an asset.
What were the negatives?
There were so many of them.
I cannot harp on this enough but I will have to. Rahul’s batting is a liability and so is his captaincy. He is completely unfit to play at the international level his hundreds in England and South Africa notwithstanding. The fact that he plays in all the formats and his laborious and tortourous innings in every format compounds the criticism of him. It is not that public memory is short. Though Rahul has a couple of hundreds in the last couple of tours to the SENA countries, the many low scores inbetween and the persistence with him despite that is what makes Indians furious. To make matters worse, he becomes the defacto captain everytime Rohit is injured.
Pujara finally managed to break the drought but that must not hide his struggle. He is clearly over the hill. The mountain of runs in England must not count towards his selection. The quality of bowling in English County Championship Division 2 is that low. At the highest level, he is stagnant at the crease despite playing in familiar environs. His hundred and the man of the series has saved him for the next year but it is time the Indian selectors looks beyond him.
Virat Kohli & Struggle of the bowlers
It seems his trouble does not have an end. His twin innings at Mirpur was a torture for anyone who had watched Kohli at his prime. He was unable to push the ball for singles and stayed rooted to the crease. It was like watching Pujara or Vihari. The couple of hundreds in T20 and ODI seems to have been an aberration. With Australia set to tour India in February, the team looks extremely vulnerable with Kohli not amongst the runs. It is difficult to see Kohli turn around things before the Australian series. Perhaps, instead of playing the meaningless Sri Lanka series, the board must have directed him to play the Ranji games which is ongoing.
The familiar problem of unable to bowl the tail out returned at Mirpur. Bangladesh should have been bowled out for way less than what they ended up with eventually. The spinners and the fast bowlers proved ineffective. It is something that India cannot afford against Australia and a rejuvenated England.
Poor team selection & Dravid’s position
Kuldeep Yadav was dropped after being the man of the match in the pervious game. It was the most ridiculous decision. It would have made Yadav wonder what more does he need to do to ensure consistent run. Rahul and Dravid are destroying his career with mindless selection. Rahul said after the game that he did not regret the decision because the fast bowlers also were among the wickets. Well, if Kuldeep Yadav had played, considering the help that was on offer, fast bowlers may not have needed to pick up wickets.
Wrapping up Indian perspective of the India vs Bangladesh
With months of poor results, it is time to revisit Dravid’s coaching stint. He is really the man who can take this team forward? India failed in multiple tournaments under him one of which India must have won. The results in Tests hasn’t been convincing either. I expected Dravid to resign after the series but he hasn’t. Probably, it is time to search for a non-Indian coach.
Other blogs about Indian cricket can be read here, here and here