Some questions to Team India

As the last Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12 began, many hoped that India would bounce back and clinch a consolation win here at the Adelaide. At the end of the first day, things aren’t looking any better for the Indians and this match may well follow the path of the previous matches. Having said that, cricket is an unpredictable game and Australia had lost the Adelaide match during the 2003-04 season even after scoring 500 odd runs in the first innings. Regardless of the result, the series has already been decided and there are a few questions that will definitely crop up after this match.

Has the time arrived for the seniors to call it a day? The old boys of Indian cricket haven’t lived up to the expectations even though there have been glimpses of the good, ol’ days. Sachin has shown that he is still the best batsman in the Indian line-up, but Dravid and Laxman have broken many an Indian heart, the former with his slow reflexes and both with their poor batting. But having said that, the selectors are yet to find a permanent replacement for Sourav Ganguly who left the No.6 spot vacant more than three years back. Chances are there that if the Big Three retires at the same time, then the Indian side will be reduced to totters just like the Australian team a year or so back.

Is Dhoni the right man to captain India in Tests? And the counter-question will be : Who other than Dhoni has the capability to lead India at this point of time? It is true that Dhoni has been too defensive lately, but what can he do without the support of his bowlers and fielders? With all his merits and demerits, Dhoni is, undoubtedly, the best man to lead the national side and he has no competitors for the captain’s post. While Sehwag has been disappointing, Gambhir’s current form may compel critics to doubt his place in the team. The seniors, at the threshold of their respective careers, are not a long-term option either. So, as things stand, Team India should stick with their skipper.

The next question will be about the depleted bowling line-up. With a misfiring Ravichandran Ashwin and ‘not-up-to-the-mark’ Zaheer Khan, the only blink of hope has been rookie Umesh Yadav. As for Ishant Sharma, he is going wicket-less despite bowling the best in his entire career. At this point of time, there seems an urgent need for experienced campaigners like Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel.

The pathetic condition of the squad will force many to raise their fingers at the team management. While a few will be grinding their teeth for not giving Rohit Sharma a chance, many will be left murmuring the exclusion of Pragyan Ojha given the fact that Australia find it difficult against left-arm spinners.

Rohit and Ojha at the airport

The last and perhaps, the most important question will be about the high expectations of the fans. After a humiliating England tour, it was quite surprising to find people who were almost certain that India would drub the Aussies 3-1 on their home turf! Even after India lost at MCG, people thought that they would still clinch the trophy. However, looking at things practically would suggest otherwise. There isn’t much difference between the current squad and the squad that toured Australia in 2008. The only difference lay in the mindset of the supporters. Having lifted the World Cup after 28 years, they perhaps, out of complacency, thought that they were the world conquerors and other teams stood no chance in front of them. The hype of the media, the over-expectations of the fans and the mounting pressure on the players are, perhaps, the latent reason behind their lack-luster performance. Having fed the Indians with spinning tracks, the management is absolutely correct in saying that people will be ‘happy’ once India thrash Australia in the subcontinent.

The selector, conscious that it would lead to a controversy, publicly disowned the statement later. But, after all, unconscious minds speak the truth!