The current Indian team is certainly very energetic and youthful. For the first time in Indian crcicket history, the bench strength looks solid, be it in batting, bowling or wicket keeping. However two things that makes me skeptial about this team are
- Can this team win a test series comfortably?
- Can this team play test match without the fantastic four?
Let me come to question number 1. Over tha past few years India has been winning test matches abroad consistently. With wins in England, West Indies, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia we have proved the world that we are no more a minnow when it comes to playing at their den.
However if analysed properly:
In the series win against England, luck played a major role. The last man was not given out LBW and later rain god helped us. I am not taking th credit away from Dhoni, who played a brilliant knock. If this had not happened the series would have been 1-1. Also England were playing without Flintoff, but that cannot be a reason for their loss.
The series against South Africa was a disaster especially in One dayers, losing all the 5 matches. However, it was a memorable series for us as we won our first test match in SA, thanks to Sreeshant who bowled brilliantly throughout the series.
The series against Australia was a memorable one for all the wrong reasons. We played brilliantly except for Melbourne test.
The series against West Indies was again a memorable one as we had registers first series win outside India in more than 20 years.
However in all these series one among the big four played a major role. Sachin played brilliantly in Australia, Dravid in West Indies, Laxman in England and Ganguly in South Africa.
Now lets come to tests match series at home. Touring India for a test match series is one of the difficult task for any team in the world. India has been the toughest opponent for any team at home. However if followed properly, one man has been instrumental in India's series win at home consistently. It is none other than Anil Kumble.
So the big question is, Is Indian think-tank doing enough to replace these five players?
Currenlt crop of players like Gambhir, Raina, Dhoni, Ishant, Piyush, Rohit, Yuvraj have been doing exceedingly well at the international level, but when it comes to consistency no one apart from Dhoni is consistent enough to play for India. Yuvraj was once called as the future of Indian cricket team. But off late he was disappointing. Can any of these players replace Sachin, Saurav, Dravid, Laxman and Kumble? Even though it is very difficult or virtually impossible to produce another Sachin, Kumble or Dravid, there should be some one who should take the team from where these five have left.
It is time for the Indian selectors to groom these youngster by giving them more opportunities at the test level so that Indian team can achieve what Australia has achieved over the past few years. I wish the team all the very best and am sure future for Indian team is bright if groomed properly.
