It is good that the World Twenty20 is another five months away. From an Indian point of view, if it were to be held now, the chances of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co winning it would be negligible.
India have a mountain to climb if they are to be ranked as favourites. On current evidence, based on the series against South Africa, they are just not good enough. Too many cracks have surfaced that need urgent repairs before they can harbour any hopes of repeating the success of 2007 when a young team stunned the world. Eight years later, Dhoni is still at the helm but serious doubts linger whether he can recreate that magic.
There are critical areas that the Indian selectors have to address, including the captaincy. Agreed, T20 is the most unpredictable format of the game where fortunes change hands within a blink of an eye and even the best can look ordinary, but quality sides manage to ride their luck and create winning opportunities.
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As of now, India are way beyond creating anything except disappointment. Let’s take a look at the issues facing the team…
Less experience as a team
The Indian Premier League has brought in the riches for the players but returns for the national team have been poor.
The only time India did well was in 2007 World T20, when the IPL was not even conceptualised. They came close to repeating that success in Dhaka last year but failed to get past Sri Lanka in the final.
The Indians may be accomplished T20 players individually but as a team they have stuttered because they have not played that many international games together. In fact, India have played the least number of T20Is (57) among the top-Test playing nations with a success rate of 56.25 per cent.
Thankfully, they are playing enough games — three in Australia in January, three against Sri Lanka in India in February and possibly four in the Asia Cup in March — in the build-up to this World Twenty20 to iron out their deficiencies.
Dhoni’s captaincy
A leader with a muddled mind is not the right person to captain a ship in troubled waters. Last week, Dhoni revealed the state of his confused mind when he said he was not sure whether to attack straightaway or get his eye in before going for the jugular when he walks in to bat. Nothing appeared to work for Dhoni in the two Twenty20 games against South Africa. His bowling changes were ineffective, his batting was ordinary and he did not look in control at all.
Worse, he has been repeatedly questioning the abilities of two quality players — top order batsman Ajinkya Rahane and pacer Umesh Yadav — in public when he should be boosting their confidence. These are not not good signs for a captain.
Dhoni’s decline as a leader probably has to do with the growing influence of Test captain Virat Kohli and his brand of aggressive cricket that has endeared the youngsters in the side. So why not hand Kohli the reins and rel-ieve Dhoni the burden. I strongly feel, that’s the way forward if India are to emerge as contenders for the World Twenty20.
However, Dhoni still has a lot to offer as a player and he will be in a better frame of mind without the captain’s armband.
Batting order disorder
It is again a Dhoni creation, because he feels that Rahane cannot fit into the side as it is not advisable to disturb a settled top order comprising openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan and No3 Kohli.
Video: MS Dhoni disappointed with death bowling but pleased with Rohit and Rahane’s batting.http://t.co/OymkIvy1i1
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2015
Imagine, the highest Indian run-getter in the last IPL with 540 runs and a strike rate of 130, has no place in the eleven! Ironically, on overseas pitches his name is first to be pencilled in, but on sub-continent surfaces he cannot get in.
Even if you go by Dhoni’s argument that Rahane has scored most of his runs as an opener, the question that arises is that has the Mumbai batsman been given enough opportunities in the middle order? The answer is a big no.
Dhoni conveniently forgets that the unassuming Rahane has been the crisis manager, across formats, batting at various positions. He is the kind of batsman who will put his head down and get on with the job whatever his position.
Dhoni has more faith in Ambati Rayudu than Rahane but the Mumbai Indians batsman came a cropper in both games against the Proteas failing to open his account.
Common sense suggests that Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli occupy the top three slots followed by Rahane, Suresh Raina and Dhoni at No6. Rahane and Raina should ideally be the floaters in the line-up who swap positions according to the situation.
Death bowling still a concern for India.Gave away 86 runs in the last 6 overs.Need to address this issue. #IndvsSA
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 11, 2015
Bowling worries
Bowling is the biggest concern amongst all. Barring off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, no other bowler has been up to scratch which means India enter every game on one leg.
It was evident in the first Twenty20 clash against South Africa when they were unable to defend a massive total of 199.
Batting is undoubtedly the strongest suit but if they have a bad day then India are doomed because they simply don’t have the firepower in bowling to blow the opposition out.
With time relatively short, all India can hope for is that Yadav, spinning all-rounder Axar Patel and medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar get their act together soon. Maybe, the selectors can blood in a few youngsters like all-rounders Gurkeerat Mann or a Hardik Pandya and inject some fresh purpose in the squad.
