How Team India can shed the tag of 'Poor Travellers'

The eras are different, the players are different, the captain is different, the coach is different, but, the result is the same. The only constant in the news about Indian Cricket team's overseas performances is the end result, so much so that the current coach was positive that the team is prepared to remove the tag. However, the results have not gone according to the plan. It does not matter whether the team is at the top of Test Rankings or somewhere in the middle, the result is not different. The team is unable to change the perception of being 'poor travellers'.

Top ex-players criticising the current performance while a couple of them coming in support, nothing has changed over the years and nothing seems to change anything. The press and the cricket pundits will have their hats out and find the chinks in the armour but things will remain the same. The tags of 'Backyard Bullies' or 'Flat-track Bullies' will give a few sleepless nights and then life will turn to normalcy as the team will try to treat their wounds by playing differently in the blues.

Is it lack of intent or faulty technique that results in the team performing badly in overseas Test series while being almost unbeatable at home. The batsmen are expected to show more desire to apply themselves, more so because, in the current scenario, only Kohli has his place cemented in the playing XI.

Therefore, one needs to find the reasons behind the team's failure to stamp authority outside Asia and change the constant in the results of overseas test series. One of the reasons may be found in the colour of the jersey. The whites don't pay you as much as the blue does. The whites will not get you the World Cup or an IPL contract but the blue will. So, the incentives for the players is less to perform to their best potential in whites as compared to that in blues. Some players also feel that they might be termed as test specialists and dent their chances in the shorter and more lucrative formats.

It's altogether a different ball game, playing a Test match in overseas conditions and your opponent is the second-ranked Test team, things become more difficult.

Selection issues and favourable conditions to go forward

Rohit or Rahane?

Kohli is filling the void made by Sachin (the player) and Sourav (the captain) which is good for the team's progress. However, we are still in search of players to fill in for Dravid and Laxman. Pujara should not be referred to as the next 'wall' because his overseas performance proves otherwise. Based on how things have shaped up till now, if we continue with this comparison, it would be an insult to Dravid's stature and also might be putting unwanted pressure on Pujara. Parthiv as a second choice keeper for overseas tour tends to show how much importance the job of a backup keeper has in the team strategies for overseas tours. The selectors should think for the long term and groom a younger and a better keeper who can bat decently.

The options for the opening pair shows that the management has to look for someone who can spend more time at the wicket and can blunt the new ball attack either with solid technique or possess a temperament to stay at the crease for longer periods. The failure of the opening stands is adding pressure on the batsmen coming first down and also on Kohli. The Rohit-Rahane debate is a good headache for the team. The best solution would be to play both in the next match and settle the matter.

The need for an all-rounder could be shelved as of now since Ashwin and Hardik have taken up the challenge. The bowling unit has never been better. Such selection headaches are good for the team as it would increase the hunger among them to perform better. Kohli has his workload reduced as the bowling unit can take 20 wickets in overseas matches and give the batsmen a decent total to chase.

Therefore, to change the only constant in overseas Test Series, the Indian team management would require to breed specialist Test players for overseas tours or the current team members have to show more resilience. The situation is favourable as Dravid is shaping the future stars and his inputs would be very important to groom the youngsters into the senior team.

An uphill task

Kohli is hungry to prove his caliber across formats but does the rest of the team management share the same intent? It will depend on Kohli as long as he is the captain and his desire to make a team that may be referred to as invincibles. Otherwise, things need to change as fast as a T20 game or this might be curtains for many in the playing XI for overseas Tests - a constant over the years. In a few days from now, the team has one more shot to redeem themselves and set the tone for the long overseas tours lined up this year. We all hope the constant in overseas Tests become a thing of the past and Kohli and his team be remembered as the 'Invincibles' and not 'poor travellers'.