Indian Cricket Shaken and Stirred

By: Yajurvindra Singh

Email: sunnybilkha@hotmail.com

January 10 th 2025:

The two Test series loss against Australia and New Zealand has definitely shaken and stirred Indian cricket.These defeats have sealed India’s fate of not qualifying for the final of the World Test Championship. The 3-1 loss against Australia is still palatable, however, the 3-0 massacre at home against New Zealand is unforgivable.

India, one felt had got the fire power to destroy any side that visited them on their shore. The last time India lost a series at home was in 2013/14 against England, more than a decade ago. This brings one to question India’s cricketing credentials. Is the T20 World Cup success blinding the Indian cricket followers, has India truly got a cupboard full of world class batters and bowlers and honestly speaking is India one of the top two sides in world cricket?

Test cricket, as one says, is the true indicator of how good a national side is. India under the guidance and coaching of Ravi Shastri ,was climbing the ladder in becoming one of the all-time great sides to ever play the game. After his departure, one has seen a steady decline and the present disappointing performances have shaken one and all. Gautam Gambhir, the present coach, seems to be in a complete dilemma. Under him the team seems to be sinking, and his frustration comes forth clearly in some statements that he has made recently. The retirement and departure of India’s premier spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, and the stepping down from playing and leading the side by Rohit Sharma, are two glaring incidents that surprised everyone.

The first time an Indian captain decided to step down from leading a side was Maharaja Natwarsinhji of Porbandar in 1932 in India’s 1st Test match against the English side at Lords. Apart from him, the vice-captain Ghanshyam Sinh of Limbdi, also stepped down to let C.K. Nayudu lead the side. The royal giving up the seat was understandable, however, the experienced and established captain, Rohit Sharma, gallant as it may seem, opting out of a very crucial match for India was unacceptable. Leadership is an important ingredient in any venture. A leader is there not for personal gains but to get the team to perform as a unit. One who commands respect and loyalty. For an Indian side to have their leader step down must have been quite demoralizing.

It takes one back to one of India’s greatest cricket captains, the Nawab Mansur Ali Khan of Pataudi. Tiger, as he was popularly called, was brought in to lead India against the mighty West Indian 1975 side led by Clive Lloyd. The Nawab had been out of cricket for a while and his eyesight in the one eye that he used to play the game had worsened. The selectors persuaded and finally got him to lead the side after India was 2-0 down in the series. His task was more towards leading the side and any contribution as a batter was a plus. The next 2 Test matches India won to make it even and one attributed it in many ways to his sterling captaincy. Although the West Indies finally won the series 3-2, it was Tiger’s leadership that stood out and not the runs that he made. One hoped that Rohit Sharma would have taken the cue from the great Nawab of Pataudi, who by the way suffered a blow on his chin through a bouncer by Andy Roberts, which tarnished some of his good looks.

The reality of it all is that India is a good side on a good wicket, however, they fall from grace when conditions are not suitable for them. The limited overs versions of the game and being successful in it, has played a major part in confusing the mental and technical approach of both the Indian batters and bowlers.

The Australian side that defeated India was not very superior, however, they showed that they were better tuned to play the conventional form of the game than the Indians. The conditions in Australia at all the venues were good for the pace bowlers, and the batters required grit and an extraordinary amount of patience and self-belief to do well. The Indian batting stars failed to do so and it was the lower order batsmen who fortunately were instrumental in redeeming some respectability.

The Australian bowlers were persistent with their length and their game plan. This was the reason that they were more dangerous than the Indian bowlers apart from Jasprit Bumrah. His absence due to injury truly exposed the Indian attack in Sydney when Australia needed 160 runs to win in the 2nd innings. On a bouncy and spicy wicket, the Indian pacers needed to bowl a good line and length. The conditions and movement off the wicket would have done the rest. However, they faltered and gave Australia a victory that they well deserved.

There is a lot of noise being made for the Indian stars to play domestic cricket. The Indian cricket calendar and schedule is such that it barely allows them to play locally.

The Champions Trophy is round the corner and Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul and Virat Kohli need to be rested to be fresh for it and the England ODI matches at home. They then go into the T20 mode by playing the popular IPL.

The England Test series in the last week of June’25 is a long way off. Success in the limited overs is all that is required for the millions of Indian followers to forgive and forget.

Indian cricket may have been shaken, however, from past experience, it will be stirred to continue in the way it was.

After all the stars have to keep shining to keep the till rolling!

(Yajurvindra Singh is a former India cricketer. The views expressed are personal.)