Taming the (South African) Lion
Crazy as 2017 was, the one thing that helped me hold on to my sanity and was a constant source of joy was the Indian cricket team! After a tremendously successful home season, its time to test the true mettle of the test team. South Africa is not going to be easy. But just how difficult it is going to be will be interesting to see!
The current team’s USP in my eyes is its ability to come back from difficult situations, not just once but multiple times in a session, a day, a test or even a series. Also the self belief the team has is so refreshing and intoxicating. Sure we have ‘star’ players in the team, but the team’s reliance on them is limited. Kohli does not have to score a (double!) century every time for the team to win. (That he seems to often do just that is immaterial.)
The batting is rock solid and deep. And this depth is likely to make the difference. A few cameos from Saha, Jadeja, Ashwin and Bhuvi would definitely help us gain the extra 50-70 runs lead in the first innings, the lead that haunts teams in the final innings. The openers Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have this terrific opportunity of proving themselves and further cementing their place in the team. (I am really liking this problem we currently have of having three in-form openers vying for two slots. Plus unlike the whole Sachin-Sehwag-Gambhir issue, this one seems to be handled in a much more positive way.) The likes of Pujara, Rahane and Kohli can once again stamp their authority on the longest format of the game overseas.
I do not, however, feel that sanguine about our bowling attack. Bhuvaneshwar, Shami, Umesh Yadav and *shudder* Ishant Sharma have been good in India but I somehow do not feel they are the best in the international scene. Also the effectiveness of Ashwin and Jadeja on South African tracks remains to be seen.
I am curious to see how Hardik Pandya fairs in the South Africa series, not only in terms of on-field performance but also in his temperament. Touted as the next best thing after Kapil Dev, I think he needs special handling. We have had some promising all rounders like Irfan Pathan who fizzled away due to bad management. (I blame Greg Chappel for Pathan’s downfall.) I am not a big fan of Rohit Sharma (another article, for another day) but he seems to have mastered the art of long innings and it is a reflection on the strength of the current team that he does not find a place in the playing 11!
Everytime India tours England, Australia and South Africa there is a lot of hope and promise. We have yet to fulfil that promise. But unlike all the other times when I have hoped but not truly expected us to win the series, this time I am hopeful and cautiously expectant of a positive result. Most of the players in the team have been to South Africa before so they have the requisite experience but there is enough new blood in the team dying to prove themselves and they are fresh off a very successful season and are full of confidence.
For once I wish we had a longer test series, a 2-1 win in 5 test series looks so much more impressive than 1-0 in a 3 test series!
The current team’s USP in my eyes is its ability to come back from difficult situations, not just once but multiple times in a session, a day, a test or even a series. Also the self belief the team has is so refreshing and intoxicating. Sure we have ‘star’ players in the team, but the team’s reliance on them is limited. Kohli does not have to score a (double!) century every time for the team to win. (That he seems to often do just that is immaterial.)
The batting is rock solid and deep. And this depth is likely to make the difference. A few cameos from Saha, Jadeja, Ashwin and Bhuvi would definitely help us gain the extra 50-70 runs lead in the first innings, the lead that haunts teams in the final innings. The openers Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have this terrific opportunity of proving themselves and further cementing their place in the team. (I am really liking this problem we currently have of having three in-form openers vying for two slots. Plus unlike the whole Sachin-Sehwag-Gambhir issue, this one seems to be handled in a much more positive way.) The likes of Pujara, Rahane and Kohli can once again stamp their authority on the longest format of the game overseas.
I do not, however, feel that sanguine about our bowling attack. Bhuvaneshwar, Shami, Umesh Yadav and *shudder* Ishant Sharma have been good in India but I somehow do not feel they are the best in the international scene. Also the effectiveness of Ashwin and Jadeja on South African tracks remains to be seen.
I am curious to see how Hardik Pandya fairs in the South Africa series, not only in terms of on-field performance but also in his temperament. Touted as the next best thing after Kapil Dev, I think he needs special handling. We have had some promising all rounders like Irfan Pathan who fizzled away due to bad management. (I blame Greg Chappel for Pathan’s downfall.) I am not a big fan of Rohit Sharma (another article, for another day) but he seems to have mastered the art of long innings and it is a reflection on the strength of the current team that he does not find a place in the playing 11!
Everytime India tours England, Australia and South Africa there is a lot of hope and promise. We have yet to fulfil that promise. But unlike all the other times when I have hoped but not truly expected us to win the series, this time I am hopeful and cautiously expectant of a positive result. Most of the players in the team have been to South Africa before so they have the requisite experience but there is enough new blood in the team dying to prove themselves and they are fresh off a very successful season and are full of confidence.
For once I wish we had a longer test series, a 2-1 win in 5 test series looks so much more impressive than 1-0 in a 3 test series!
posted by Ila @ 7:16 AM
1 Comments:
The only thing I was right about was the 70 odd runs lead in the first innings making the difference! South Africa batted better, fielded better. India's batting needs to contribute. It was heartening to see our bowlers take 20 wickets. It is very important to have Rahane in the team. At least one out of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane need to perform every time and the innings can be built around them. Hardik Pandya was great. We really need to groom him. The match was exciting and waiting for the next one eagerly!
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