As the IPL T20 saga continues, Virat Kohli tops yet again by scoring centuries and is in the process of re-writing batsmanship. According to him, he gets into the bowler's head and knows exactly where to strike regardless of the format. In a nutshell, he destroys the set plan of the opposition captain and coach before execution.
This is easier said than done. In the longer version, there is enough time to change the approach. But the T20 demands one to read the situation quickly and attack with intelligence. The consistency with which Kohli is performing makes him a genius. It is amazing to watch him convert a good ball into a bad one and short circuit the field placing with geometrical precision and timing that reminds one of Gundappa Viswanath’s batting.
The shots he showcased then — especially, when he made an unbeaten 97 at Chepauk in 1975 against West Indies — was nothing but an exhibition of the T20 shots. The difference being that the lofted shots weren’t a necessity in the longer version then. Now, it’s premium to take as many aerial shots as possible. Kohli’s flat-batted shots landing in the stands will even make the authorities to consider distributing helmets to the spectators!
In Test cricket, the technique adopted has to be different. His percentage of getting out behind the wicket on the off side is growing at an alarming rate when the ball wobbles. The close infield makes him a bit vulnerable when his bottom hand comes into play more than required. This has to be analysed before the Test series begins in June.
At international level, when the technology is used to its optimum level, all that matters is hours of practice to outsmart the opposition. Although Kohli is astute, he will need a month of conventional batting practice under the expertise of Rahul Dravid.
On the batting front in the current scenario, India lacks the in-depth batting required for Tests that is present for the T20. We neither have an opener like Sunil Gavaskar nor have a quality all-rounder like Kapil Dev. All the talk about change in coaching staff is ridiculous because it’s not their job to make players world-beaters. Their task is to only enhance the quality of the chosen players. The selectors pick the players and not the coaching staff.
Now that Kohli will be leading the team in Tests, he has to build it in consultation with the selection committee like how Ian Chappell did. He worked on the role of each player in the team and made it a fighting unit. Although he had top quality players in the team, he had to change the dressing room culture that his predecessor had encouraged to mould them into a zealous unit.
Strategic policiesKohli’s strategic policies are in the same mould as Ian Chappell. He has definite plans for the team and would want players of his choice for implementation. The Indian selectors generally do not select players whom the captain isn’t keen on including. The poor fitness record of the fast bowlers entails Kohli to personally look into the matter.
We expect captains to lead from the front only on the field but right from Douglas Jardine and Len Hutton to Gavaskar and Dhoni, the captain’s role is to nurture the players so that they fit in their scheme of things.
One fine example is the England team. Before the Ashes series, Jardine worked on Larwood and Hutton worked on Tyson. They ensured that the bowlers understood their role in the Ashes and got them to practice the same at home. Both Larwood and Tyson terrified the Australian batsmen.
In the 1970 Ashes, Ray Illingworth got the best out of John Snow. Similarly, if Kohli and the coach can get Ishant Sharma fit, other bowlers can rally around. Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni have excellent potential too. With the Tests commencing shortly, both Kohli and the coaching staff will have to meticulously plan and get their players fit to execute their plan accordingly. The onus will be on them to have a comprehensive plan in place for the 18 Tests out of which a few matches will be at home where the spinners can be handy.
Sadly, in the recent past, execution of the set plan was not viable due to the fast bowlers being perpetually unfit. As the IPL is played in scorching heat, it takes a heavy toll on them; constant travel does not give enough time for recovery. The only solution to these occupational hazards is to have more fast bowlers with the same potential, ready at the National Cricket Academy under a good bowling coach.
Looking at the present scenario, it’s going to be a tough season for Indian Test cricketers. Selectors need to pick 25 players and have to give more preference to bowlers so that the replacements are ready. The only way to establish the Indian cricket team in Tests depends on the combined efforts of the trio — the decisiveness of the selectors, instinct of the captain and astuteness of the coach. The question now is to see if they can pull this off together this season!
