As we all know, a second Indian team is on their way to Sri Lanka for a short limited overs series. Rahul Dravid will be coach for this team. It is good that the BCCI thought it fit to appoint Dravid as the coach because he has worked with most of these players over the last few years at the National Cricket Academy. As such, he will know the strengths and weaknesses of all these players. Sending a team to Sri Lanka, appointing Dravid as the coach is onething but the more important thing is winning the games. Rahul Dravid’s announcement is heart warming.
Rahul Dravid has come out and said that winning the series is the single most important objective
“There are a lot of people in the squad who are pushing for places ahead of the T20 World Cup coming up, but the key goal, and we’ve had discussions around it, is to try and win the series,” Dravid said. “That is the primary objective. Hopefully if people can get the opportunity to put in some good performances in the course of us trying to win the series, they will give themselves the best chance of knocking on the doors of the selectors.”
This is an Indian team that is touring Sri Lanka
This is really good to hear from the coach of the team. The team that has gone to Sri Lanka is not an Indian A team. The Indian A team usually travels across the world just to gain experience. It has served the senior team quite well. The likes of Siraj, Gill and quite a few others have benefitted from the A tours. As such win or loss in those games does not really matter so long as the players learn. So long as the players learn to bowl in different conditions with various balls and bat in the most challenging of circumstances. The A team tours are just that. For experience and be ready whenever called for.
The same cannot be said of this tour to Sri Lanka because this is a proper Indian team that is touring the island. Yes, some of them are on their maiden voyage with the team but that must be distract from the bigger picture.
Sri Lanka are really struggling
The bigger is not only to win the series but to win all the games. Sri Lanka is really struggling. They have become so weak that the current Indian team is considered formidable for their likes. A clean sweep is what is expected from India. It will be excellent if this team can achieve that. Nonetheless, series win in both the formats is mandatory. The result of the games will be directly counted against the wins and loss of the Indian team. The runs scored, wickets taken, catches etc will be counted against every individual.
In that sense, for the coach, who himself hated losing, to come out and express a desire to win the series as the top priority is excellent. It means that the players will be under the same pressure and they will have to undergo the same preparation as they would if they were playing for the other Indian team.
Reports about Bumrah and Pujara dropped
Reports are coming thick and fast that Bumrah and Pujara may find themselves out of the first test against England and that Kohli may move up to number one. I don’t know whether dropping Pujara is a good move but he must definitely be told to speed up the game. It will be better if he comes in at number 5 where the ball will be much more older and the bowlers somewhat tired. He will then be able to bat freely. At the moment, Pujara at number one is useless. I would rather have Rahane replaced with Sundar. Pujara atleast plays for time whereas does neither. Neither does he score runs nor does he play for time. He gets out so quickly that the pressure on the remaining batsmen is increased manifold.
The real positive will be if Kohli bats at one. The team management must come out of the mindset that being the best batsman in the team, he must be protected from the new ball in the event of an early wicket. Though it is a valid argument, it does not really do justice to Kohli’s calibre.
Kohli at one drop will be excellent
Kohli at one drop does have the capacity to withstand pressure of the new ball. He will be solid against the fresh bowlers in the event of an early wicket. He does not need too many deliveries like a Pujara to settle. Once settled, he has the ability to keep the scoreboard moving. He can transfer the pressure onto the opposition quickly. Instead of Indians feeling like being under siege, it will be the opposition. In this case, England, who will feel like that. Once Kohli has firmly established himself at the crease, he can start to dictate terms to the bowlers. This will increase the confidence of the batsmen who are to follow. Kohli is the perfect player to be the Ponting or Richards of India. He certainly has that aura around him.
Kohli at one drop will show intent on the part of the Indians and sort of belligerence to the opponents. In the event of India off to a good or great start, Kohli is the right man to carry it forward unlike a Pujara who will let the opposition get a foothold. If Kohli does come in at the fall of the first wicket, it will be great to see unlike Tendulkar who refused to move out of his favourite slot and everyone else were moved around to accommodate him. Kohli has already announced his intention to open the innings in T20s and thereby giving up his coveted one drop. It remains to be seen whether he will follow that in Test cricket as well. If he does, my respect for him will grow manifold.