So, the T20 World Cup is done and dusted and the start of another series. From an Indian player’s perspective, there isn’t much change. Over the last several years, most of the players move lethargically from one series to another. These tired and jaded bunch are now set to cross swords with their recent nemesis, New Zealand. I can only pity the players. Let me analyse the Indian team for the New Zealand series.
For some reason or the other, New Zealand have become India’s nemesis in recent years. Both while playing in New Zealand and in ICC tournaments. The 2019 World Cup semi-final loss is still fresh in memory as was the defeat in the WTC final. Added to that the 2021 T20 WC group game loss too. It is a different story that New Zealand does not have a good record against India in India but the gap atleast in ODIs is narrowing. Hardly 6-7 games now differentiates between the teams. I meant the win/loss record with India leading slightly.
New Zealand have certainly improved under Williamson. There is no doubt about that but India too have improved. However, it is unfathomable that the recent exchanges between the teams have been lop-sided in NZ’s favour. India for some reason suffers from lack of confidence when playing against New Zealand. It is in this backdrop that the next series will be played. India have rested some of the main players from the T20 squad and the test squad. Some of them make sense but the rest does not.
Some of the players rested from tests
Pant, Rohit, Bumrah and Shami will not be part of the test series whereas Kohli will not play the first test. There is absolutely no question as to whether these players deserve a break. They absolutely do. They have been playing for more than 10 months and that too within a bubble. It is tough for any player.
However, the question remains whether these players and a whole lot of others could have been given a break from the 2nd leg of IPL and thereby remain fresh for the T20 WC and the New Zealand series. Why is that club games are given priority and not international games? Isn’t playing for the country much more precious than playing for some franchise? Shouldn’t the franchises themselves informed the board that they do not want the overworked players to be playing in the IPL? These are pertinent questions and we all know what the answer will be.
Hopefully, Dravid has thought through
Anyway, these guys have been given rest now and let us hope that they are fit and full of energy for the all-important South African series later in December. I can only hope that Dravid has thought through the decision to rest important players considering the fact that this will be his first series as coach of the Indian team and that he will want to start on a winning note. That he will not repeat the mistake that he made in Sri Lanka by giving chance to far too many cricketers in the same game.
Some questions that needs answer
Shreyas Iyer may finally make his test debut in Kohli’s absence for the first test. It remains to be seen whether he is good enough at this level. I expect the playing eleven to be Mayank, Rahul, Pujara, Rahane, Shreyas, Jadeja, Ashwin, Saha, Axar, Ishant, Siraj/Umesh with Kohli replacing Shreyas for the second test. What is however puzzling is handing over the captaincy to Rahane and the dropping of Hanuma Vihari.
Rahane and his test credential
Rahane has been struggling for more than 5 years. It really is a miracle that he is in the team itself. Even in the recent series in England, he didn’t not cover himself with glory. There were calls to drop him and include Surya Yadav after the 2nd test. Such has been his pathetic display with the bat. Yes, he won the series in Australia with players who were hardly experienced at any level but that does not mean that he can be promoted to captaincy despite his struggle. The obvious question is who will lead in Kohli’s absence?
I would have had Ashwin the lead the team. He has excellent cricketing brain and this would have been the ideal situation to assess his leadership capabilities. You cannot have someone who is struggling to keep his place in the eleven lead someone who is certain to play a major role in the series.
The BCCI and the selectors is loath to take hard decisions. It is time the selectors earn their living. It is not like olden days when the selectors were honorary positions. Now they are paid professionals with the chief selector earning more than 1CR every year. They must be prepared to take bold decisions. If not, what is the reason for them to be in that panel? Questions must be asked about their selection and they are answerable. If you cannot drop Rahane it is alright. Have him in the team but just do not make him the captain.
The absence of Vihari
The non-inclusion of Vihari is even more baffling. The reason behind his omission is that he will be in the India A squad to South Africa where India will play the next series. He has been sent there to adjust to the conditions. His last test innings was a heroic effort at Sydney to save the game which ultimately helped in India winning the series. After that he went early to England but wasn’t included in any of the tests despite the struggles of Rahane and Pujara. There is no guarantee that he will be included in the squad after the A tour is finished. If Vihari can be treated so shabbily why can’t Rahane who is afterall past his sell-by date?
The T20 squad
The T20 squad has seen more changes than the test squad. IPL 2021 performers are included. Dravid wants to create a team for the next world cup in Australia in 2022. Venkatesh, Rituraj & Harshal who were by-far the standout performers Indian performers are part of the squad and are likely to play all the 3 games. The selectors seems to have lost confidence, finally, on Hardik Pandya and have Venkatesh as his replacement. The only problem is that he is an opener. Whether he will be able to adjust to the middle order position is open to question.
On the whole, test T20 team needed a bit of tweak with T20 specialists which was done but Rahane should not have been the captain in the first test.