When Virat Kohli opted to include six batsmen and five bowlers for the one-off Test against Bangladesh at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadum here, Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was left out in order to accommodate a bowler.
It triggered a debate as to whether it was possible for Pujara to make it to the playing XI again.
Irrespective of whether Pujara returns to the playing XI or not, another important topic deserves more attention. And, perhaps, gives an idea about the Test specialist’s future.
Ahead of the Test, captain Kohli had said he was a great fan of the six-five combination as it would give the side a good chance to take 20 wickets and help win a Test. This was the policy the great Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi believed in.
Notwithstanding Kohli’s inherent aggression and the burning desire to win every contest, the most pertinent question is whether he can afford to apply this combination for all situations and in all parts of the world. It looks an unlikely prospect at present, especially when India does not have a genuine all-rounder in its Test line-up.
The 15 member Indian Squad- Virat Kohli(Captain), Murli Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara; Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin; Varun Aron, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Karan Sharma Bhuvneshwar Kumar, picked for the Test matches in the forthcoming Bangladesh tour. Photo: PTI
Good strategy It may be a good ploy when India is playing on the batsman-friendly pitches of the sub-continent, but it may backfire when touring Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or England.
The pacy and bouncy tracks of Australia and South Africa, the nippy conditions in New Zealand, the late swing in England have always posed challenges and the team would need more depth in its batting line-up in those conditions.
For the record, Kohli, who led India in two Tests during the Australia tour, had opted for a combination comprising seven batsmen and four bowlers. In the first Test in Brisbane, he went with Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Varun Aaron and leg-spinner Karn Sharma. But in the fourth Test in Sydney, he chose Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and off-spinner R. Ashwin.
Here, as per the demands of the conditions, Kohli opted for an altogether different combination, consisting of three pacers and two off-spinners, which is not a usual feature in an Indian Test line-up.
Even as there is too much focus on the six-five theory, one must understand that Kohli is a responsible man and has a good cricketing brain. Hence, Kohli, backed by Ravi Shastri’s positive intent and the team’s interests being top priority, may have to pick horses for courses.
Shastri believes in the policy of playing good cricket and not always bothering about the result.
Ashwin perhaps explained the scenario the best when he said, “At the end of the day you have to leave out some people. I have been left out in the past, different people have been left out in different times. Somebody has to sit out and unfortunately Pujara had to sit out (here). Tomorrow he may play. The scenario is very simple — if you to play five bowlers, you have to sacrifice a batsman.”
This is what the young Kohli has visualised for the benefit of Indian cricket. Rahul Dravid said it right. Give Kohli some time.
