INDIA’S NEXT TOURS

Now that IPL is over, the country will unite to support the men in blue as the international season begins with a short visit to Bangladesh. This will be followed by a two-week stint in Zimbabwe and a three-test away series in Sri Lanka. This will last till August (if not earlier). Now I am writing this post to just point out what team India can do for these three-month long short visits.

First Bangladesh. Now touring Bangladesh is no longer a honeymoon. The team is strong, plays good cricket especially in its own backyard. They blanked Pakistan in the ODI series. Of course they have a long way to go as test nation, but the first test against Pakistan was a glimpse of what they can do. Bangladesh knocked India and England out of the World Cup in 2007 and 2015 respectively. Now Bangladesh has been alleging foul play in their Quarter-Final defeat to India in the WC match at Melbourne. We all saw what AHM Mustafa Kamal had to say and what Mashrafe Mortaza had to say. It was really dirty. They put forward many instances where they were on the receiving end of poor umpiring but in real the only bad decision was Rohit Sharma being given a reprieve when on 90 from where he went on to score 47 more runs in no time to virtually seal Bangladesh’s fate. Of course Bangladesh would be slightly relieved that India lost in its very next encounter to the eventual champions. But that doesn’t take away what Bangladeshi players and their ICC representative had blurted out. This resulted in the ICC chairman (our own Srini mama) presenting the trophy to Michael Clarke amid the much expected booing instead of the ICC president Mustafa Kamal. Now coming to the point while Bangladeshi fans will bring back all those memories of bad umpiring – both real and that imagined by them- this series has become more of the fans and that of the players. Obviously the fans want their respective teams to win both the series. I would like to put out an interesting perspective of why India sent a full strength squad to their improving neighbours. On the outset the reasons would be that Bangladesh is a better side than they were last year (where India sent a second string squad and still swept the series) and that India under Virat Kohli (current test and future ODI captain) would want to play ruthless cricket whoever be the opposition. But in hindsight this is an opportunity for India to bulldoze Bangladesh and silence their fans. Whatever was said in the heat of their Quarter-final loss was unwarranted and it is time that India cut the vocal chords of those still claiming it was Bangladesh’s match and show who is the boss. Yes Virat Kohli did say that both teams are past the controversy and are professional. But have no doubt this is not another series. But let us not convert an international series into a personal war between the fans of both nations and let us enjoy the cricket played between both of the teams. I expect India to blank Bangladesh.

Second Zimbabwe for a 3-match ODI and 2-match T20 series. Zimbabwe is a team now on the upward path a parabola. Yes the team has lost its stalwart Brendan Taylor to county cricket. But after watching them in action against Pakistan I felt that they were the real winners. Under Dav Whatmore the team is expected to rise above all expectations and I wish them the best. But if India sends its first rung squad there as well we can expect another clean sweep. If India sends a second string squad then the hosts have an excellent chance to win both series’. For Zimbabwe to start winning those crucial matches Sean Williams must transform into a better all-rounder. He has to pick important wickets. His batting is alright; he is their best batsman. Their batting is strong. Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine are all good batsman. Their bowling doesn’t have the sting to bundle out oppositions. If their bowling improves then they will surely go places. But for now the squad India announces for that tour is what will decide the competitiveness of the series. Yes Zimbabwe was this close to hand out India its first defeat in the World Cup but it is this distance that they have to cover to beat top-ranked opponents.

Finally a three-test match series against Sri Lanka. Wait! Another series against Sri Lanka??? Oh no!!! But wait tests? Okay slightly better!!! Whew!!! It’s been a long time since these two nations have played a test series. In that sense it is a relief as India and Sri Lanka play a series as often as a film is released in India!!! Now here I would like to voice my views on both the one-off test against Bangladesh and the series against Sri Lanka. I am a passionate fan of test cricket and want India under Virat to regain the No. 1 ranking in test cricket. I want this new side to perform really well in all tests- especially those abroad. Easier said than done!!! What we observed from one year of away test matches in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia is that Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have emerged as excellent test batsmen for India and have certainly cemented their places in the test playing XI and the Indian batting will revolve around these three. While Saha will replace Dhoni as the keeper-batsman I expect Virat to give him a longer rope to cement his place. Now here comes the problem. The other three spots are vacant and the contenders are Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Lokesh Rahul. Though Rahul scored a century in Australia thanks to injury he will have wait again for his turn in the case the opener’s slot is still open. I expect him to come back for the Sri Lanka series. Now I want Virat to field the same playing XI of the Sydney test in Bangladesh and in Sri Lanka (depending on how the series proceeds). Of course Rahul out, I want Pujara to be experimented as an opener. A player playing at No.3 can also open – as shown by none other than the great wall of India in England, 2011. Dhawan did not perform well in 6 tests in England and Australia (only 1 fifty that too playing virtually at 6 at the Gabba) means that he had an extended long run. Rohit Sharma at No.3 has not been experimented enough. Yes it took him a millennium to cement his place in the limited overs and the point that how long you will keep on giving him chances will surely come up once a discussion on him starts. But in his defense he was not fielded continuously in England (played only in the third test and that too an unnecessary move to break a winning combination and field him) and in Australia missed the third and brought back for the fourth as a No.3. It was here where he played well- 53 and a decent 39 on a tough fifth day track. A humble suggestion would be that Rohit score his runs at quick pace. It is not necessary that in a test the runs should come at a snail’s pace so I would want him to play from Bangladesh and going by Virat’s recent praise about him I can 99% say that he is going to play in both the one-off test in Bangladesh and for the first test against Sri Lanka. But from there on his performance will decide his place in the playing XI. Or in Vadivel’s words (Winner) “ADHU ODI, NAA SOLLARADHU TEST”. It will be interesting to see whether Rohit will play at No.3 or No.6. As for Suresh Raina one test is not enough especially when you have made a comeback to the test set-up. Yes it was a pair in Sydney but give him more chances. I would say that he must play all the 4 tests only then would it be fair to contemplate a replacement in case of a failure. Also the fact that the competition is packed only at the top order- 4 players for 2 slots should the experiment of playing Rohit at No.3 continue- must be a slight relief and should give him an opportunity to play with freedom. If Raina can bring his natural game to the fore and score quick runs then he will serve as an excellent choice for the team.

THE COMPETITION IN THE TEST XI

Opener slot 2: Dhawan/Rahul

No.3: Pujara/Rohit

No.6: Raina/Rohit (if Rohit doesn’t play at No.3)

Lokesh Rahul is also a keeper so competition for Saha. But I’m sure Saha will be given a long rope to settle in.

So for tomorrow’s match four batsmen (Dhawan, Pujara, Rohit, Raina) are competing for three slots. If Kohli shows an intent to play 5 bowlers, then I guess two not one will miss out the match.

As far as bowling is concerned Harbhajan is a sure shot in the XI. Otherwise it will become meaningless to have picked him in the first place. Kohli can make a daring move by playing Karn instead of Ashwin again or both if there are 5 bowlers. I expect Ishant and Yadav to complete the bowling lineup. If Kohli wants swing its Bhuvneshwar he has to go with. I don’t see Yadav being left out in any case.

Coming back to Sri Lanka, it will be a tightly fought series. But in the absence of Jayawardene will hurt them. But the fact that it may be Sangakkara's last test series will surely motivate the Lankans to win the series for him. So too tight to call even though India may begin with a slight advantage.