Just to think that India has lost one more final and thereby one more attempt at an ICC trophy has gone abegging makes every Indian supporter quite sad. Over the last several years, we have come to expect our team to stumble either at the last hurdle or the one before that. With every passing year, hopes of India winning another ICC tournament fades. Having said that, let me give marks to the Indians in the WTC finals mark for Indians.
Adding to the sadness are the post-game comments of both the coach and the captain made people even more angry because of the stupidity of it. Rohit Sharma wants a best of 3 finals, Dravid and Rohit blame the bowling on the first day and Rohit wants a win of 20-25 days preparatory period before the finals. A load of nonsense.
Let me begin with the openers. The marks are for 10
Rohit Sharma (Two)
The captain was virtually clueless throughout the game. First was his decision of leaving out Ashwin which though did not find any kind of support, I think was taken as a continuity of previous decisions India has taken with respect to playing Ashwin in overseas conditions. Having said that, on the field, he looked listless. He was unable to prevent the mayhem on the first afternoon. After having begun well, Indians gave away a lot of boundaries to both Head and Smith. Rohit Sharma was unable to control the game at that point. It proved disastrous in the end. The coach picked this passage of play as the decisive phase of the game.
With the bat, he was uninspiring. Chasing a tall score, an excellent contribution from the openers was very much needed. The batting conditions have significantly improved. There was not a cloud in sight and yet, Rohit Sharma didn’t press on for a big daddy hundred.
Perhaps, it is time to look elsewhere for captaincy. He can remain in the team for another year but beyond that, at the age of 36, it is difficult to see Rohit being part of the next WTC finals if India qualifies.
Shubman Gill (Two)
The most in-form batsman in the Indian team. He came into the WTC finals on the back of multiple hundreds in the IPL. Not only that, he was quite impressive during the Bangladesh series and secured 100s in all the 3 formats. The expectations were really high. If one believed that he will finally be able to fulfil his gifted talent justice, we were all in for a major disappointment.
Ever since his exploits in his very first series in Australia, Gill has never lived upto to the promise. Time and again, he has squandered multiple opportunities. It is time he realises that he will not have perpetual opportunities because he is talented. The sooner he starts to perform in important games and under tough situations and conditions, the better it is for him and the team. Otherwise, he will remain one of those batsmen who was good in patches.
Cheteshwar Pujara (One)
The selectors have made a blunder by picking him because of the mountain of runs he scored for Sussex. More than a year ago, the decision to drop both Pujara and Rahane was the correct decision but no one could have imagined that within a short space, both will be back in the team. Last year, before the Edgbaston Test, Pujara scored hundreds by the will for Sussex and come the Test, he was found wanting. He was hardly able to get the ball off the square. Much the same can be said about this finals too. Here again, he was prolific for Sussex but was miserable against better bowling. It is clear that he has passed his best. It is better India look elsewhere.
Virat Kohli (Two)
I have been among those supporters who wanted to give Kohli a lengthy rope when he was struggling. When he didn’t know where his next run is going to come. However, the rope has been really lengthy. Granted just a Test ago, he scored a mammoth 186 but that was on the featherbed of a pitch. His contribution on challenging pitches against better bowlers has been negligible. It will be a shame if Kohli retires with a sub-50 average but maybe just maybe, the time has come to place Kohli on notice. This cannot be allowed to go on. Especially, with India playing just the 5 proper batsmen.
Ajinkya Rahane (5)
The comeback batsman. Good performance with the bat in both the innings. He kept the team in the game just that bit longer. However, was it correct in the first place to bring him back? I do not think so. The problem is that, he will be persisted with for atleast another year because of this one performance. However, he can continue if he is made the captain. Afterall, he won the series in Australia with bowlers who had hardly played 5 games combined.
Ravindra Jadeja (4)
Decent with the ball but disappointing with the bat. The only reason Ashwin was kept out of the playing eleven was because of Jadeja’s ability with the bat. He has done decently well in the recent past but with Rahane at the other end batting well, he must have kept him company and must have ensured India post a good enough first innings score.
Shardul Thakur (5)
He did not do his chances of being picked again whenever India tours abroad any damage. A couple of vital breakthroughs apart, his batting was really a revelation. Despite multiple hits on the body, he did not flinch and give up his wicket, unlike the illustrious batsmen. Though he did not contribute anything with the bat in the 2nd innings, he did enough to justify his spot.
Bharath, Umesh (One)
What was Umesh doing on the field? How is he in the team for the last 10 years? He is another Ishant Sharma who hasn’t improved an inch throughout the career. It is time to wish him well and let him go. As for Bharath, there was a clamour to include Ishan Kishan and Bharath did not do anything to dispel their clamour.
Siraj, Shami (Five)
They bowled with a lot of passion and fire but the exposure to T20 cricket for 2.5 months messed up their lines and lengths. Towards the middle of the 1st day, they were jaded. It contributed to Australia running away with the game.
Wrapping up WTC finals mark for Indians
It is time some 35 years old are bid goodbye and build a new team.