The Indian team that will take on West Indies in 6 games was announced. Rohit Sharma, the designated captain will take over from the beleaguered Rahul. The series consists of 3 T20s and 3 ODIs. The team consists of as many as 3 leg-spinners. Kuldeep Yadav is back and Ravi Bishnoi has been selected for the first time to represent India. As expected, V. Iyer has been dropped from the ODI squad. However, do the Indian selectors know what they are doing? What is the wisdom of Indian selectors?
One reason for picking leg-spinners is because India struggled to pick up wickets in the middle overs. This was something that haunted the team for a long time and was famously arrested by the emergence of Kuldeep and Chahal. After the 2019 WC game against England, suddenly their inability with the bat came into sharp focus and as a result only one of them was preferred to be in the eleven subsequently. A strategy that was followed for more than 2 years and which proved to be successful, was jettisoned after just one bad game for both the spinners. Now, the lack of wicket taking bowlers in the middle overs has again come back into focus. However, things have changed drastically after that. India wants to go back to that trusted formula. It is not the same anymore. Too much water has flown under the bridge.
Why is Kuldeep back?
The first contentious decision is the recall of Kuldeep Yadav. Wasn’t he dropped just about a month ago from the team that toured South Africa? Wasn’t his form cited as the reason behind it? All it took was 3 hammerings and Yadav is back in the squad. One, this does not reflect well on the national scene that there is no other bowler who can be picked. Two, this again reaffirms the fact that the selectors are clueless as to what is required or how to plan for the short and long term. Kuldeep did not play any competitive cricket in the interim.
When he was dropped because of poor form, what has he done to earn a recall in the intermediate period? What did the selectors suddenly see in him that they did not a month ago? The wisdom of the Indian selectors is something that can never be fathomed. This is not new. This has happened in the past and it will happen in the future. If Kuldeep is good enough to be in the squad, he must have been part of the squad to South Africa. Remember, in 2018, Kuldeep and Chahal were the reasons India won handsomely. In the interim, it is a fact that Kuldeep lost his form.
The team management did not help his cause by picking Axar ahead of him. On the pitches where Ashwin and Axar spun webs around the English player’s technique, Kuldeep was the most expensive and the least productive in the only test he played. Kuldeep’s stocks have certainly gone down from when Shastri proclaimed that he will be India’s prime spinner in overseas conditions.
Kuldeep must rediscover himself
It is better to allow him to go back to Ranji cricket and rediscover himself rather than in the harsh world of international cricket. There is no better sight than Kuldeep in form. I still remember that beautiful loopy leg-spinner to Peter Handscomb in his first test. That is the Kuldeep that this team needs.
Bumrah must have played
Second, Bumrah is again rested. Yes, he played in all the games bar one in South Africa. Bumrah seems to be suffering from too much expectations. His inability to bowl India to a series victory in South Africa will rankle him for time to come. Moreover, he has seldom played in India except for IPL. He must be playing in the series against West Indies.
Sundar is a batsman
Third, considering Sundar as replacement for Ashwin. I have said this before and I will say this again. Sundar is a much better batsman than a bowler. It is unfortunate that he himself does not realise that. His has enormous potential with the bat but is a limited bowler. He showed his prowess in Australia and against England. It was not easy for a debutant and someone who is considered a bowler to hook the world’s best bowler for a six. It was a perfect shot. Selectors and the team management must give him the confidence that he is in the side as a batsman who can bowl if required and not the other way around. I also think that Sundar is much better suited to test cricket than limited overs.
Ashwin, it is understandable
It is perfectly understandable that Ashwin is not part of the squad. The official version is that he is injured. Nonetheless, he should not have been considered in the first place. He has had his chances and he blew it. It is time to recognise that Ashwin is a test specialist and in India, West Indies & Sri Lanka. He is 35 and almost with zero chance of improving himself. Moreover, Ashwin’s fitness, his limitations with the bat and the fact that he must be hidden in the field all works against him.
Conclusion to the wisdom of Indian selectors
The fact of the matter is that India is not spoiled for riches. If so, we would have won both the test and ODI series in South Africa with time to spare but we didn’t. We were miserable in the ODIs. If they selectors want to get the team right for the next world cup, they must get the team right. Pant is not number 4 and Rahul is not an opener. Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur or for that matter even Siraj cannot be frontline bowlers. Bumrah must be nurtured back to top form. I do not expect Bumrah to play for more than 7 years. During that time, he must be motivated to win as many games as possible. If required, he can be rested from IPL games.