Can Virat Kohli overcome the problem of five-bowler strategy in Tests?

India’s new lethal pair?

After the Test match at Dhaka, there has been a lot of talk about whether the ploy of playing five bowlers will continue in the longer run or not. It’s difficult to come to a conclusion after playing against relatively a weaker team in the longer format of the game, but from what we have seen at Dhaka, it seems Kohli is likely to continue with the five bowler strategy.

Kohli believes in the performance of the top five while playing five bowlers, and if any three of them can click, the team can certainly put a big score on the board. However, there are few concerns in five bowler strategy which may affect India’s plan when they travel overseas.

In the last four overseas trips, we have seen consistent batting collapses where India would fall from position of strength and thus, losing out many opportunities to win. It was largely due to lack of contribution from number 6 batsmen, and thereby, exposing the lower order quickly into the game. India still hasn’t found a proper replacement for VVS Laxman, who can play match defining innings at 6 and also have the capability to bat with the tail.

With Kohli looking to play five bowlers, Wriddhiman Saha is our number 6 batsmen. It would have been better if India had a proper-batsman who could have created match-winning scores. So far Saha hasn’t looked like a proper batsman and also lacks the temperament with the bat in the longer format of the game.

In case, if he is not amongst the runs, it just triggers a mini-batting collapse, with Ravi Ashwin and the bowlers to follow. Also, if Saha doesn’t create match-winning impact at 6 with scores of 100, 120 or 90, it puts more pressure on Ravi Ashwin to deliver like a proper batsman. True, Ashwin has the temperament and skills to deliver with the bat in Test matches, but can he score like what a proper batsman used to score? We will have to wait and watch.

Also, while playing five bowlers, the second spinner becomes more crucial in sub-continental conditions. In the past when Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were playing together, both used to provide decent contribution with the bat at 8 and 9 as India played with four bowlers.

Kumble and Harbhajan dominated the opposition batsmen together for a decade

Now with the five bowler strategy, the second spinner could bat at 8, and thus, it is important that he makes a decent contribution with the bat. It would be interesting to see whether the selectors will invest again on Harbhajan or will they go back again to Ravi Jadeja, Karan Sharma or Amit Mishra.

But it’s a difficult decision to make. Jadeja has been out of form in last one year, Karan Sharma didn’t look impressive at Adelaide and Mishra hasn’t played for four years in Test match cricket.

Also, Jadeja and Sharma didn’t look good with the bat while Mishra can provide a decent contribution of 30’s if he has a proper batsman at other end. But it will be interesting to see whether the selectors will give a go to Jadeja. He has proved to be good bowler on these dusty pitches and has proved to be dangerous on rank turners. It’s going to be an interesting choice considering his current form, but if he doesn’t repay the trust, India will have some serious issues to settle.

There’s specific reason why the place of two spinners in the side will be critical to the five bowler strategy. One, the fast bowlers haven’t shown the ability with the bat, and hence, if both the spinners have the ability to shine with the bat, it gives the captain the flexibility he needs in the batting and also provides depth in batting. Second, both can bowl in partnerships and strangle the opposition rather than having one spinner, who feels the entire burden on him in putting up a match-winning performance. Third, it also gives the captain the flexibility in selecting the spinners for overseas conditions.

If there’s healthy competition for spinner’s slot, then better it is for the team. So far Ashwin has been and would be the preferred spinner in overseas considering his ability with the bat, and non-performance of other spinners, which is not a good sign for the sub-continental team.

The ideal solution for this problem could be making one of the top five batsmen as your fifth bowler who can keep the frontline bowlers fresh. Murali Vijay has shown glimpses that he can chip in with few overs when needed in overseas, and thus, he can be asked to bowl even in sub-continent Test matches.

But at the same time, the selectors will have to keep an eye on someone like Rishi Dhawan who is a proper all-rounder. But it is not sure whether he will be considered in the next 15 months as Stuart Binny has been the first-choice all-rounder.

The team for the Sri Lanka series would give us the indication of thought process of the selectors and captain. In my opinion, selectors can consider four spinners for the Sri Lanka tour, and assess their performance after the series.

Jadeja, Harbhajan, Karan Sharma and Ravi Ashwin are my choices for the Sri Lanka tour considering the nature of wickets, and also for the overseas plan. This set of bowlers also deserve chances against South Africa and also for the home series against Sri Lanka. However, with Kohli not looking to change his ideas, he can the make the team perform according to his plan. If that’s the case, at least two spinners would be better prepared in the next 15 months along with Ravi Ashwin.

So, if Kohli is to stick with the five bowler strategy, he will have to find at least two spinners who can perform both with ball and bat and also, a number 6 batsman who can play like proper batsmen and make match-winning impact.