This blog is about Rahul’s defence and Ashwin’s support for Kuldeep
Rahul must realise that his best spot is in the middle
I have always said that Rahul’s best spot in white-ball cricket is in the middle order. Number 5 is his ideal spot. If Rahul comes in after the 35th over, he can create wonders. He has got all the shots but for some reason, he refuses to play any whenever he opens. Beyond the 35th over, there is no option but to attack. That is where Rahul is at his best. With him being the main wicket-keeper in ODIs, his spot is more or less assured. Rahul seems to have understood that but it is the media that keeps on harping about him being made to open in Test cricket whenever India travels and either is dropped or bats down the order in Test cricket when India play at home.
I for one believe that despite his partial success in Australia, Test cricket is not his forte. ODI and T20 and that to at number 5 is where Rahul can express himself freely. Rahul said, “Yeah, I do [enjoy batting at the top], I mean I won’t lie,” Rahul told Star Sports after the game. “It’s after opening the batting in Australia in Test matches and having to face that attack in Australia and you know how red-ball [cricket] is much harder. I opened the batting there and then to come here and bat low seems a bit different, but this is how I’ve played white-ball cricket in the last four-five years.”
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy has suddenly emerged as a bowler to reckon with. He had a good series against England where none of the English batsmen were able to pick him properly. Infact, Varun was the main reason India sweeped England in the ODIs and T20s that preceded the Champions Trophy. There was a clamour to pick him for the Champions Trophy. Varun had an immediate impact in the games against New Zealand and Australia. It has been awhile since an Indian spinner took 5 wickets which Varun managed in his very first game. As a result of his success and Kuldeep Yadav’s relatively moderate success, there is a chorus for Kuldeep to be dropped if India needs a medium pacer.
There was a period, not so long ago, during the Kohli era, Kuldeep and Chahal were the mainstays of the bowling. Immediately after the exit from the T20 World Cup, where Ashwin and Jadeja were clobbered to all parts of the ground by Lendl Simmons, the Indian spin bowling underwent a major overhaul. Out went the finger spinners and in came the leg-spinners. These two mesmerised the opposition and was instrumental in so many victories. The biggest series win was the one in South African where India won 6-1. India have never achieved such domination anywhere outside of home. Kuldeep and Chahal were the fulcrum around whom the bowling revolved.
Fast forward to the 2019 World Cup and England’s decimation of them and their inability with the bat, this successful formula was sidelined immediately.
Ashwin’s support to Kuldeep
Kuldeep has found his way back into the squad but Chahal may not. Infact, Kuldeep played a stellar role in the Test series win against England at home. The one glaring anomaly in Kuldeep’s statistics is that he has rarely or never, run through sides. He gets the important wickets but the 5 or 6 wicket hauls continue to elude him. Hence, there is always a dagger hanging over his head. This is where Ashwin has come to his support.
“Yes, Varun Chakravarthy came and took out 5 wickets. Guys, I am saying, please understand, Varun Chakravarthy’s novelty factor is going on. His identity, I mean, how is his bowling coming, because it is an X factor. That’s why people are watching and playing, and they are not ready to take such a risk,” the veteran bowler said.
“He is a new player. Of course, for us, Varun Chakravarthy is gold. But do not lose out on the diamond that Kuldeep Yadav is. Please estimate how his bowling is going. Please do not estimate by wickets. And people say that he has experience and he should do more. What can we do? Should we take out all 10 wickets? It doesn’t happen in one-day game or T20 game. And someone has also said that he didn’t put so well in the final of T20 World Cup. Please, please watch how he bowls and not go by the end figures.”
Wrapping up Rahul’s defence and Ashwin’s support
It is nice of Ashwin to come to the defence of his former colleague but ultimately, it is the wickets that count. End figures do matter. We had that experience as recently as Australia where apart from Bumrah, none of the other bowlers were threatening despite bowling in some of the seamer friendly conditions. If only Bumrah could have been supported better, India may have well won that series despite poor batting because Australia wasn’t that brilliant either. Hundreds from the bats of Smith and Head could have been curtailed earlier if Bumrah had adequate support. Kuldeep is a diamond but his survival depends on taking wickets and not the occasional breakthroughs.
Other Champions Trophy blog
https://icricketcritique.com/indian-champions-trophy-squad/
https://icricketcritique.com/a-fabulous-win/
https://icricketcritique.com/news-from-the-champions-trophy/
https://icricketcritique.com/more-from-champions-trophy/
https://icricketcritique.com/news-from-champions-trophy-2/
