By Gaurang
August 14 2016

Ajit Wadekar first led India to a series win in the West Indies forty five years ago... since then India has won a couple of series in West Indies, but always by a 1-0 margin.  This is the first time they have won the series and won two or more (they may yet win in the 4th Test in Trinidad) Tests in doing so.  

The most heartening part of the win in the third Test at St. Lucia was India's ability to pick up 20 wickets in a match that lost an entire day and a bit more to rain...  India were just too good for the West Indies, whose fighting effort in Jamaica, now seems another false dawn.   The way the Indian team regrouped after they were stymied in Kingston speaks volumes about both Captain Kohli and also about the new India Coach, Anil Kumble.

Even in Jamaica, the Indian team bowled with intent and purpose, but not much luck, on the last day on a fairly easy pitch.  However it must be admitted they simply didn't have the right game plan.  They were out played by a determined West Indies team, and Roston Chase in particular, who was not tested with full and swinging bowling but instead was peppered with short of the good length and short pitched stuff.  This line of attack allowed Chase to sit on the back foot and defend or attack as he pleased without much risk. This tactic was repeated to others too with similar results.

The Indian think tank quickly adjusted and brought in Bhuvenshwar Kumar in place of Umesh Yadav, replacing Umesh's pace and hostility with Bhuvi's both-ways swing. They also brought in Ravindra Jadeja in place of Amit Mishra.  Both Yadav and Mishra had not bowled badly per se, though they did seem to lose some focus on the last day in Jamaica, so replacing them with two new bowlers was a bold move.  It was also a well reasoned move, a move that hinted at the influence of Anil Kumble. Kumble, as the leader of the Indian bowling unit on the field till recently, clearly understands both the psyche and the capabilities of various bowlers.  The lengths (much fuller) and the line more closer to off stump that all the quicks bowled in St. Lucia in both West Indies innings indicated another facet of the thinking of a Coach who himself was a great bowler. 

For India whose weak suit has always been her bowling, to pick a bowler as the team's Head Coach is a great move, one that is likely to lead to the bowling unit gelling and becoming much more potent.  Is it a cooincidence that the last time India's pacers looked so good overseas was when Kumble was Captain in Australia, and the likes of Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma and RP Singh were out bowling Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, and Stuart Clark?  

The batting too is looking solid, with the lower order pulling its weight magnificently.  However, Captain Kohli may need to consider whether his move to the number three spot is the wisest move.  His vulnerability to the ball moving outside off stump has still not been fully fixed.  And it may make sense to have Vijay and Dhawan open followed by KL Rahul at three and Kohli at four.  If that were the case, there would be no place in the side for Rohit Sharma.  Kohli seems quite enamoured by the "aggressive" attitude of Rohit, but he musn't be blind to the fact that his own weakness at one down would mean that including Rohit in the team is a luxury that he can't afford, especially if he wants to continue with the 5 bowler approach.

The weakness of the Windies attack has papered over this glaring hole, but against tougher opposition this stubborness on the part of Kohli to play Rohit could backfire.  Hopefully, Virat will be sufficiently focused on team performance to not insist on continuing this blunder.  It is also patently unfair on Murali Vijay to have to sit out of the team.  His contributions to India's Test success has been immense.  He has, by some accounts been India's best overseas batsman along with Ajinkya Rahane.

It is early days yet, but the signs are all there that India are on their way to once again becoming the No. 1 side in Test cricket...and this time they are likely to hold on to that spot much longer than last time when they fell precipitously immediately after reaching the top under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.  Under Dhoni India were cruelly humiliated in back to back 0-4 whitewashes in England and Australia.  This time the team has a captain and coach in synch, and an all weather attack that can do well when the ball turns, swings, bounces, seams or does none of these.  The BCCI also seems to have found a new fondness for this format, as it has scheduled nearly 13 Tests after this 4 Test series in the next 6-8 months, which should help in cementing the No. 1 spot for a long time to come.

Kohli: First Captain To Win Two or More Tests in West Indies

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 14/08/2016 02:52

Indian Cricket Fever
14/08/2016 02:52

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:09:19:07:29:00 by Birbal.

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
17/08/2016 22:24

India reach No. 1 in Test Cricket... under Kohli... now if they beat West Indies they will hold on to their spot for a bit... though to really seal it for a long time they will need to beat NZ and England both comprehensively at home.

With the current set up that should be doable... but will not be automatic by any means... will take a lot of hard work.

Btw, does that silly Test Mace thingy get passed to BHIMSEN Kohli now?

Much better if ICC finally implemented a Biennial Test Championship like I have been advocating for a decade and more...

See [www.cricketnetwork.co.uk]

Reply Quote Report

Birbal
22/09/2016 04:17

Funny Kohli hasn't been presented the mace thingy though he led India to No. 1 on TWO separate occasions early in 2016 and in the midst of the West Indies series...

They presented it to Misbah lickety split...though didn't they?

Oh well, will be Kohli's by right shortly...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:09:22:04:18:27 by Birbal.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net