Turbulent times for Indian cricket

In the past few months, the Indian cricket team has faced defeats across formats – losing a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years, losing 3-0 at home to New Zealand, another first, and then going down 3-1 to Australia in a five-Test away series to surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. What is even more alarming is the fact that there is no indication of the slide coming to a halt any time soon, says Partab Ramchand, and he explains the many reasons for this

These are turbulent times for Indian cricket. In the last few months, the team has gone from one disaster to another across formats. First, they lost a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years.Then, the Test team had to endure a loss that they have never had to endure since they started playing the traditional format 92 years ago – a clean-sweep 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand. And now they have gone down 3-1 to Australia in a five-Test away series to surrender the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time in ten years, in the process failing to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship for the first time.

What is even more alarming is the fact that there is no indication of the slide coming to a halt any time soon and there are many reasons for this. With some of the senior stars clearly over the hill, it is time for them to ride off into the sunset which will set the stage for a transition. And as is well known, during a transition it will continue to be a testing time. Secondly, there is a paucity of talent in the bench strength. On the face of it there appear to be several players waiting in the wings to don the India cap but hardly any of them inspires any confidence that there could be long-term prospects. Third, there has to be a change in the selection process which involves a lot of thinking and planning and a far-sighted approach. And last, but not least, there has to be a total overhaul of the coaching staff, starting with the head coach.

The sudden retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin midway through the series against Australia came as a surprise but in the process he might have started an exodus. There is already tremendous pressure on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to follow suit and there are even questions about Ravindra Jadeja. All of them have rendered yeomen service to Indian cricket for years but age does take its toll and there are clear indications that the trio have seen better days and are unlikely to see those days again. Ashwin is 38, Rohit 37 and Jadeja and Kohli 36. Even at this age if there is some good cricket left in them they can continue. Ashwin was quick to realise that his best days were behind him; now it is up to the other three senior players to accept the inevitable.

The immediate future of Indian cricket should revolve around the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. These three are clearly the torchbearers who will be around for a long time. Yes, even Bumrah, who during the series against Australia took such a lot upon himself so much so that he broke down in the final Test. His performance has been the beacon of light in the inky dark cloud that is Indian cricket now. On the face of it there would be appear to be a lot of support for him but apart from Mohammed Shami whose return after injury is eagerly awaited and, to some extent, Mohammed Siraj, there is really no one out of the top drawer.

And on the spin front – Indian cricket’s traditional strength – suddenly it seems that the scenario is bleak. With the retirement of Ashwin and with Jadeja unlikely to command a regular place in the near future, the situation is alarming with only Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav emerging as frontline specialist spinners. Washington Sundar has not yet cemented his place in the side and there is no young top-class spin talent in sight.  

The batting presents a major problem. With the imminent exit of Kohli and Rohit, there will be a huge gap both at the top of the order and in the middle. Despite several opportunities, K.L. Rahul and Shubman Gill have not inspired confidence. Moreover, the repeated debacles in Australia has exposed the frailities of India’s batting and it does not augur well that India’s next Test series is in England. Despite his memorable hundred at the MCG, Nitish Kumar Reddy does not appear to be a long-term prospect.  

And this brings us to arguably the biggest problem Indian cricket faces right now – the head coach and some of his support staff. Gautam Gambhir’s appointment last year was not exactly welcomed. As it is, succeeding the likes of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid would be big shoes to fill. Moreover, given his abrasive personality, one had serious doubts about him being a success in the high profile job. His stubborn comments in interactions with the media did not exactly make him popular with the cricketing fraternity even during the series against New Zealand. Rising to Rahul’s defence and then droping him from the playing eleven and statements like the Indian batsmen not being fallible to spin bowling despite repeated failings did not show him in favourable light. Gambhir’s image took a further beating Down Under, especially in the episode involving Rohit droppping himself from the team in the Sydney Test. There was no need for any secrecy or intrigue behind that decision; it should have been a candid, clear-cut one. Gambhir has presided over one setback after another and cannot avert responsibility.

(The writer is a veteran sports writer who spent his career working for The Indian Express and The Telegraph and Sportsworld. He lives in Chennai.)