All the major academic admission examinations across the world make sure to include ‘Permutations & Combinations’ as a topic to test the candidate’s quantitative aptitude.
A question or two asking how to arrange a number of guests at a party across a fixed number of seats around tables are certainties in papers like the SAT and GMAT. As a result, students often aim to ace the exams by understanding these topics inside out.
Like the students, India’s team management too, will severely hope that cracking India’s top-order conundrum in Test matches can be achieved by applying a few ‘Permutations & Combinations’ formulas, because the alternative options seem to be throwing up some tough choices.
Ahead of the series, the talk was about Shikhar Dhawan and whether the Delhi batsman really merited a place in the side or not. But thanks to his well made 84 in the first Test against West Indies, the rumbles settled down and it seemed that Dhawan’s immediate challenger, Rahul would have to wait in the wings; but then Murali Vijay ended up injuring himself and opened the door for the Karnataka star.
As things stand, Rahul lapped up the opportunity with both hands scoring a commanding 158 in the ongoing Kingston Test, thereby raising some serious questions regarding the ideal make-up of India’s top order.
With Vijay being a certainty in the XI as a result of his consistent performances over the last two seasons, and with Dhawan buying himself some additional time, it looks like the fight has boiled down to who the management picks: it’s a battle between Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara for the number three batting berth.
"He's batting really, really well" - KL Rahul puts his weight behind Cheteshwar Pujara#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/QAl9AWDmaE
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 1, 2016
While many would argue it is a problem worth having and is probably a good thing – one really wouldn’t want to be in Anil Kumble or Virat Kohli’s shoes at the moment. Pujara has been Indian cricket’s most selfless player in recent times. His willingness to shift up and down the order, ability to tackle hostile spells and doggedness to bat for long hours make him an absolute asset at one wicket down. But his failure to convert his starts into big scores has cast doubts over his worth in the side.
In contrast, Rahul has made the most of his opportunities every time he has got a chance and he’s done exactly what has been asked of him. The 24-year-old has scored three hundreds in six Tests for India, with five of those Tests coming in scenarios where he has had to fill-in for an injured opener. Australia, Sri Lanka and now, West Indies – Rahul has managed to tick the ‘make runs away’ box as well.
It’s a fact that Pujara no longer remains the run machine he once used to be and therefore his utility is often replaceable. But it’s beyond doubt that out of the two, Pujara is far more dependable than Rahul and can be expected to put a greater value on his wicket, as his low percentage of single-digit scores in Tests suggest.
What makes things precarious for Pujara though, is his inability to convert starts ever since he scored a patient 77 on a minefield in Mohali last winter. His scores of 21, 31, 14, 28, 16 and 46 in his last six Test innings might be indicative of the rut he is getting into – one he’d need to come out of real fast. Something similar happened to him in 2014 in England as well, after which he was temporarily dropped from the Test side; and he will be aware of the scarce opportunities an Indian Test batsman gets to stake a permanent claim over a batting position.
Saying so, India should ideally give Pujara this entire series to prove his worth, even if it is at the cost of having an in-form Rahul warming the benches. There seems to be no two ways about it as Pujara’s experience and solidity is something that could hugely benefit an Indian line-up filled with flamboyant players.
In the unlikely scenario that the Indian management decides to go with both, discarding all the permutation-combination formulas at hand, the talismanic Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s five-bowler strategy would be the first casualties of the move.
Bit worried about Pujara. Thought that 100 in SL would set him free. But still looks out of form every time he bats these days.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 31, 2016
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