The Indian cricket team is in danger of losing their second high-profile home series on the bounce. Last year, a lesser fancied, but spirited New Zealand outfit returned home after a 3-0 series whitewash that was unprecedented for the hosts where three-match series were concerned.
The Gautam Gambhir-coached outfit went on to lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia despite stunning the Aussies in the opening Test at Perth. A home series against the West Indies was India’s next Test challenge last month, and while Shubman Gill’s men prevailed in both Tests, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the so-called hopeless West Indies team stretched their accomplished opponents to the last day of the final Test in New Delhi.
While our limited-overs teams continue to blossom, India’s Test pack doesn’t come out smelling of roses often enough. The performance in the opening Test against South Africa on a tricky Eden Gardens track was horrendous; no amount of praise for the visiting team appearing extravagant notwithstanding.
Pundits reckon that our Test players don’t play enough domestic red-ball cricket to be used to the grind of batting on turning tracks. Valid point. But who should be blamed for such a scenario? The players who find excuses to miss state cricket? Not anymore probably because the BCCI is keen that they play. If the administrators want their players to be seen more in domestic cricket, they have to open up a schedule that allows this. It’s in their control. For starters, make the Irani Cup a star-studded affair.
All stakeholders must think about how India can be a force in Test cricket again. Picking the brains of Team India’s last two head coaches before Gambhir — Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid — could be the way out. And while they do that, the over-emphasis on limited-overs cricket can be toned down a bit to fix India’s woes in Test cricket.