Well, they have a lot to prove. The team in the West Indies does not inspire any confidence whatsoever. Most of them are found wanting on pitches that are not easy for strokeplay. Moreover, the tail is too long. At this rate, India will be hard pressed to even qualify for the knockouts in white ball cricket and win anything outside India in Test cricket. The situation is alarming if not dire. It looks like most of them are happy to be playing in the IPL and earning millions rather than worrying about playing for the country under sweltering heat and humidity.
The recent ODI and the ongoing T20 series in the West Indies reminds every Indian fan that the future does not look all the rosy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli did not play in the first and second ODIs thereby allowing the youngsters much needed match practice. It was a good decision. Afterall, Rohit and Kohli will not be around for too long. They are on the wrong side of 30s and as such, have another couple of years at the highest level. In white ball, that will be even lesser. If India fails to win another World Cup, it is likely and both of them are not among the runs, the chances are that they will be eased out of the white ball squad altogether in the immediate aftermath and asked to concentrate only in Tests for another couple of years. The same goes for Shami and perhaps even Bumrah.
Youngsters are not grabbing opportunities
In such a scenario, the youngsters must be ready to grab their spots but unfortunately, the current series is doing the opposite. Let us remember that the West Indies did not qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The first time ever. Lesser known teams have defeated them in the qualifying tournament. India’s youngsters are expected to match those lesser teams and without the help of either Kohli or Rohit, win all the games against West Indies. Yet, they managed to lose one ODI. The second one.
They were never really in the game. You had Axar Patel walking in at the crucial number 4. It is hard to believe that India does not have a proper number 4. In the running towards the 2019 World Cup, India faced the same problem. Four years down the line, they are still finding the same problem. I find it hard to understand why are they not able to settle in a proper combination just a month before the World Cup? This team has played so many ODIs that by now, the team management and the selectors must know who will play in which position. However, things do not seem to be the case.
Rohit’s partner is still unidentified. Rohit himself may not be the same force as he was in 2019. Kohli can be a good accumulator but he is incapable of finishing games like he did during his peak. Numbers 4 & 5 are not known yet. Shreyas Iyer and Rahul may not be fit before the World Cup and even if they are fit, they will be short of game time. Rahul at number 5 will be devastating but his lack of match fitness will be a problem.
Serious question marks
Shubman Gill has been squandering opportunity after opportunity. He must count himself lucky that he is still part of the plan. The IPL runs have given him a rather lengthy rope and it is a shame because IPL runs must not count towards national selection. It must also be noted that his IPL runs came on flat pitches and not on pitches that were slow. I am afraid he is going the Rohit Sharma way. Learning the game at the highest level. It is ridiculous to even mention him along the lines of Kohli. The Prince in Waiting. He is not a patch on Kohli.
As for Surya Yadav, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, atleast Ishan Kishan was alright but the question remains whether he is good enough opening against excellent bowlers. Surya, I think has already played his final ODI. He just does not know what to do in ODI. Whether to go on the attack from the first delivery or get himself in before unleashing his shots. In such indecision, he ends up doing neither.
There was a lot of hue and cry when Sanju Samson wasn’t on the flight to West Indies. In the couple of opportunities that he got, with so many overs to spare, he must have stamped his authority and must have demanded a spot. He didn’t cast doubt on his temperament. With Ishan Kishan capable of opening the innings in T20 and ODI and a keeper to boot, Sanju’s chances will be limited. When Pant returns, it will become even lesser. He cannot blame anyone else but himself if that happens.
Bowling is another worry
As for the bowlers, none of them can bat. In this day and age, when every team has bowlers who can bat, if not classic cricket, atleast, they can thrash the ball, here in India, we have bowlers who can hardly lay bat on the ball. Ravi Bishnoi, Siraj, Mukesh, Shami, Bumrah, Chahal, Kuldeep, none of them can bat. How the team management and the selectors allowing these bowlers to continue in the same fashion is beyond me. Most of them are playing the game for close to 10 years. Time enough to sell your wicket dearly. Shastri and Kohli were replaced with Rohit and Dravid but things have remained the same.
Wrapping up the Indian new generation
I am afraid that India’s next ICC tournament win is a long way away. We just do not have the personnel to win major tournaments. India is in for a rough ride. Things will get worse before it gets better. Batsmen will have to perform consistently and in every condition and a couple will have to learn to bowl. Bowlers will have to do the same with all them capable of holding their end.