The Indian preparation for the ODI World Cup which starts in about a month, has gone off-track. The high of the Asia Cup triumph just a few days ago, has already gone down the drain. The confidence that was gained after such a triumph is carelessly being squandered. That is the least that can be said. Let us remember that India won a multi-nation tournament after a gap of 5 years. Someone like Kohli has never been part of such a squad. Why am I saying all this? Let me try to analyse in the Indian preparation goes off-track.
India will play Australia in a series of ODI games just before the World Cup. First of all, these games by themselves are unnecessary. What is the need for such games just before an important tournament? What if some major player, there are quite a few in this team who have returned from various injuries, is injured? The Indian board does not miss any opportunity to make money. This is one of those money-making exercises.
The Ashwin comeback
The team against Australia has seen the re-emergence of Ashwin. The same Ashwin who was considered not good enough to be part of white-ball cricket longtime ago. He made a brief comeback to the T20 squad but was rightly dropped after awhile. He is not young and even his days as a Test cricketer are not that long. I am not saying that it is numbered but I do not see him playing the game after 2024. I do not have anything against Ashwin but what is the need to recall him? Ofcourse, I will stand exposed if Ashwin goes onto perform and perhaps even win the World Cup for the nation.
The reason given for Ashwin’s inclusion is that in case Axar Patel remains unfit right till the World Cup, India will need a backup spinner who can also bat.
“We’re hoping Axar will be fit,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar said. “Washy was already part of the squad for the final. Ashwin brings experience, so it gives us options in case there is a need at some stage for us to look at those guys.”
It is true that for someone like Ashwin, he does not really need match practise. He is always at the ready. Not for nothing is he called ‘The Professor” because he is always thinking about the game and how to evolve. It is a pity that India never had the services of Ashwin the captain but that is for another day.
The rested players
India has hardly played a handful of ODI games over the past year. Whatever game opportunity that the team gets, it must be used to its fullest capacity. However, the selectors are of a different opinion. They have rested players like Rohit & Kohli. Why? What is the reason? The World Cup is just around the corner. If someone needs to get injured, it is more likely the bowlers. Why are Rohit and Kohli rested? It is all well and good to give youngsters a chance but that must not come at the cost of playing together just before an important tournament. Ofcourse, these players have played for a number of years together but that still doesn’t mean that they can be rested. Rohit & Kohli return for the 3rd ODI. Why rest Hardik Pandya? How many has he really played?
Explaining the team management’s rationale behind naming two different squads for a short ODI series, Agarkar stressed the importance of giving the senior players a “mental break” given the short turnaround between their victorious Asia Cup campaign and the first ODI.
“Luckily we got a fair amount of cricket at the Asia Cup,” Agarkar said. “If not, we would’ve looked at it some other way. More than physical, sometimes guys need a mental break, which isn’t a bad thing leading into a tournament like the World Cup.
Agarkar, the chief selector talks about mental break. If the board is really serious about mental break, they must think about reducing the number of games the Indians play. Particularly, the IPL. It takes a lot out of the body of every individual. The board must ensure that only one round of IPL games will be played and no more. This habit of players skipping India games must be avoided at all costs.
The issue of captaincy
Rahul in the past has shown how hopeless he is when it comes to captaincy. Yet, he is persisted with. That shows a lack of foresight on the part of the selectors. If there is no one, Rohit must play. Hardik Pandya, who was the deputy to Rohit in the Asia Cup, is also rested for the first and second games. If Rohit must be rested, why not let Hardik become the captain instead of going back to a tried and tested formula? The selectors most of the times, do not have any vision at all.
Wrapping up the Indian preparation goes off-track
It does not really matter who the chief selector is or who the regional selectors are. They have consistently shown that they lack foresight and a sense of planning. The ideal scenario is that this series should never have been played or if it has to, the regular, proper team must take the field in all the games.