The Indian team has lost the Pataudi Trophy in England despite many expecting them to win against and England side with more than a few problems of their own. Virat Kohli‘s team India were extremely competitive during the Test series in South Africa earlier in the year and it was hoped the lessons learnt from there would help world No1 India show they can win series outside Asia as well.
But after four Tests in England, India have fallen 3-1 behind with the final Test going on at The Oval.
There were many reasons for the series defeat. India lost the first Test in Birmingham (31 runs) and fourth in Southampton (60) by fairly close margins after competing with the hosts on equal terms. However at critical moments, their batsmen and bowlers slipped to hand the hosts the advantage and Joe Root’s men didn’t waste the opportunity.
Moving forward, the Indian cricket hierarchy needs to make some alterations to their set-up to ensure the team is in the best possible shape to win away from home. They are:
1. GET RID OF SHASTRI
Kohli and Shastri.
India coach Ravi Shastri has proven to be inadequate in getting the team battle ready for the really difficult challenges. His press conferences are all about big words but when it comes to actual decision making, it is clear that he doesn’t have much of a say. The decision to play just one truncated warm-up match before the Test series, have five days off before the first Test, picking an extra spinner in the second Test on a greentop at Lord’s and picking an injured Ravi Ashwin in the fourth Test are just some of the decisions that reflect poorly on Shatri’s decision making abilities.
Any coach with authority would have tapped captain Kohli on the shoulder and asked him to reconsider some of the decisions. The only way India can ensure such blunders aren’t committed again is to have someone like former coach Anil Kumble at the helm who can crack the whip when necessary and ensure the team comes first, even if at the cost of rubbing some egos the wrong way.
2. HAVE AT LEAST TWO WARM-UP GAMES
It is incredible India didn’t play more red-ball cricket before the Test series in England. The Indians thought having high-intensity training is better than warm-up matches against weaker opposition. That didn’t work in South Africa – where they didn’t play any warm-up matches – and didn’t work in England. And it certainly won’t work in the future.
If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Test cricket still needs players to go though a process, even though the game is played at a greater pace nowadays. The Indian board must put the players through the wringer of warm-up matches because their demands have resulted in series defeats when victory was very much a possibility.
3. DON’T PICK UNFIT PLAYERS
Ravi Ashwin.
India selected an unfit Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the third ODI against England and it made for embarrassing viewing as he barely bowled at 80mph with the hosts wrapping up a series win.
Then in the Test series, India fielded an unfit Ravi Ashwin in the fourth Test on a Southampton surface that had a lot of help for spinners and where Ravindra Jadeja would have been the better option. However, it was Moeen Ali who outbowled Ashwin and India lost the series. The Indian board needs to ask the team management the reasoning behind picking unfit bowlers for such important matches. And also, ensure there is another decision making authority with the team who can step in and make a sensible call.
