Can the version 2.0 of Fab Five emerge from our current test squad? 

The disastrous tour of England has finally come to an end. The Indian Test team which aspired to be the best touring side in the world lost comprehensively to England. The margin of defeat 4-1 speaks volumes about Team India’s dismal performance. After a heart-breaking defeat at Edgbaston in which India went down by 30 runs, many felt this Indian team can bounce back.

But the fragility of their batting line-up was well-read by the opposition. Then came a shameful defeat in the 2nd Test at Lord’s when the team lost by an innings and 159 runs. When winning the series seemed like a daunting task, India somehow managed to keep the series by registering a 203 runs victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge. India displayed a clinical performance after bidding adieu to Murali Vijay and Kuldeep Yadav.

The fourth Test at Southampton looked competitive but India lost it in the middle to wrap up the English lower batting order. India fell short of 60 runs while chasing England’s target of 244. India lost the series and in the fifth and final Test which turned out to be a dead rubber or more importantly Cook’s farewell Test match, 2 young lads; KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant managed to put up a fight but still lost the match by 118 runs.

So there comes the big question. After being a formidable side which produced the finest of batsmen in the world, why do we fail in our batting department in overseas conditions? The answers are too many.

If we leave aside Virat Kohli’s obsession to experiment with the playing XI in every Test or coach Ravi Shastri’s backing in every move of the captain, one fact is very evident - Indian batsmen don’t apply themselves to basics when it comes to playing in SENA countries (South Africa, England, Australia, and New Zealand).

Although India earned the reputation of being the No. 1 side in the world, the current batting unit clearly lacks composition that the Fab Five (Virendra Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sourav Ganguly) brought to the table. Rather than experimenting too much with the batting line-up in every Test match, India should look out for Fab Five version 2.0 which can emerge from the existing talent pool.

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#5 KL Rahul for Virendra Sehwag

KL Rahul

Virendra Sehwag can rightly be termed as the legend killer. The man better known as the ‘Multan of Sultan’ retired the spin bowling legend Saqlain Mushtaq on his home turf in 2004. Sehwag never considered off-spinners as bowlers and during his prime, he slammed some real big hundreds and he is the only Indian having 2 triple hundreds to his credentials.

KL Rahul has given ample signs of fitting into the shoes of Virendra Sehwag on top of the order. No doubt, he had an abysmal tour of England this time, but his stroke-play is immaculate. While playing his knock of 149 in retaliation in the final Test, he gave goosebumps to the English side. For a brief period, it appeared that KL Rahul may singlehandedly win the match for India.

Also, KL Rahul had a dream run in the IPL 2018 and managed to overshadow the exploits of his senior teammate, Chris Gayle. It was good to see him play all the 5 Tests in England despite of some early failures in the series. With time and most importantly exposure, KL Rahul can perfectly fit into the shoes of Virendra Sehwag as a swashbuckling opener.

#2 Virat Kohli for Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli

The name says it all – Virat Kohli. As a cricketer, Virat Kohli has deservingly filled himself into the role of a cricketing god earlier held by Sachin Tendulkar for more than 2 decades. His batting records certainly give an impression that he is the only guy who can break all the records held by his iconic predecessor and that too in fewer matches.

After scoring his maiden Test century in Adelaide in 2012, Kohli went on to register 23 Test centuries from 71 games. 16 of those 23 Test hundreds came outside India and going forward he is just shy of 8 centuries to equal Graeme Smith’s tally of 25 hundred as captain of the side. No records seem impossible for the 29-year-old if he keeps scoring runs at the same pace.

Two of his stellar performances this year although in a losing cause, Centurion (153) and Edgbaston (149) showcased his calibre of waging a lone battle in times of crisis. These knocks are truly in metaphor to Tendulkar’s classical knock of 136 that came against Pakistan in the Chennai test in 1999.

#3 Prithvi Shaw for Rahul Dravid

Prithvi Shaw

Many say that Rahul Dravid never got his due credit of being a cricketing god because his career flourished alongside Tendulkar’s heroics. If there is one player who can aptly fit into this role, it has to be the Under 19 World Cup winning captain of India, Prithvi Shaw.

It’s just a matter of time before he earns his maiden Test cap and makes a loud noise with his performances. He is not just a bright Indian prospect, but many believe that he is going to walk in the footsteps of all-time-greats Sachin Tendulkar. Not only his stance, but his temperament and composure at the crease made many cricketing pundits say that this chap is here to stay.

After a promising showing at the IPL 2018 for Delhi Daredevil, the 19-year old displayed sound technique of hitting the ball with murderous intent. Having all textbook shots to his armoury, Prithvi Shaw can rightly be the next ‘Wall of the Indian Cricket,’ a role which Rahul Dravid essayed with near perfection in his long decorated career.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane for Sourav Ganguly

Ajinkya Rahane

When it comes to timing the ball, there is nobody in the current lot who can match up to the caliber of Ajinkya Rahane. This is precisely the reason why he has remained the most successful overseas batsman of India in Test cricket.

Ajinkya Rahane may have failed to cement his side in the limited overs format, but he rose up to the capacity of the vice-captain in the Test side. This showcases the selector’s belief in seeing Rahane for the longer scheme of things. His compact technique makes him one of the finest players to counter the short ball with relative ease. Having scored overseas centuries against all the major Test playing nations, Rahane is one of those technically gifted players who can be compared to Sourav Ganguly.

Batting in the lower middle order, Ajinkya Rahane can provide all balance in the event of an early collapse. In the final Test when the team needed someone to stand with KL Rahul, it was Ajinkya Rahane who stitched a partnership. At Trent Bridge, he contributed 81 runs batting with Virat Kohli to win the Test match for India.

#5 Karun Nair for VVS Laxman

Karun Nair

VVS Laxman, another legend who wore many hats in his long illustrious career – match saver, a match winner and his very special ability to hang in with the tail-enders in building innings. His wristy shots always appeared God-like that often forced oppositions to split their tight field placements. Karun Nair is a similar prospect who is a delight to watch when he is on the song.

He is the only Indian batsman after Virendra Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket. It came in his debut series against touring England and many believed that yet another star is born. In the next 3 Tests, Karun had a poor run and was eventually dropped from the team. After having featured in just 6 Test matches for India, Karun still averages 62.33. It was heart-breaking for many cricketing greats to see the young lad warming the bench in England this year, the same opposition which took him to the high point of his career.

It’s important for the Indian team management to give an extended run to such players despite some early failures. VVS Laxman didn’t become an overnight legend. With age by his side, Karun Nair can still stake his claim in the side. The Indian batting order needs some flamboyance in the middle order and Karun Nair could just be the right candidate to do the job along with Ajinkya Rahane.