Vijay Dahiya has recognized Gautam Gambhir for over twenty years whereas navigating the uneven waters of Delhi cricket collectively, therefore he’s sure that his former teammate would tackle Indian workforce’s powerful transition part in his inimitable chin-up model. For India’s present head coach, the Check sequence defeat in opposition to New Zealand at residence, a primary in 12 years and after 18 victories on the trot, can be a bitter tablet to swallow. However Gambhir cannot be faulted if there is a sense of déjà vu.
As a participant, he had witnessed first-hand a troublesome transition part between 2011 to 2014 when Duncan Fletcher took over a workforce – from Gary Kirsten after the World Cup marketing campaign – full of a lot of superstars who had been over the hill.
Ravichandran Ashwin is 38, Rohit Sharma 37 whereas Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are nearing their thirty sixth birthdays.
Then there may be Mohammed Shami, at present injured but additionally within the mid-30 vary, strolling in direction of the sunsets of their glittering careers.
“There will not be any knee-jerk response as workforce for the third Check in opposition to New Zealand and Australia sequence has been introduced however Gautam can be trustworthy and upfront about every part,” Dahiya, who has labored with Gambhir in each Delhi Ranji Trophy and Lucknow Tremendous Giants groups, instructed PTI.
Dahiya admits that transition phases looming not far away are at all times powerful however vouches for Gambhir’s communication expertise.
“Better part about Gautam is his communication and whoever he’ll converse to, he’ll converse brazenly and in-front,” mentioned the previous India stumper.
One other former India stumper and ex-chairman of selectors MSK Prasad feels that ageing is a actuality which one cannot draw back from however one wants to have a look at the method taken whereas enjoying at residence.
“Age is pure and you may’t draw back from it. Positively, a part like this could come and transition does not occur in a single day. In our case, this workforce has a pleasant mix of youth and expertise however I’m apprehensive a few sure sample,” Prasad instructed PTI.
“Of late, we aren’t scoring sufficient runs within the first innings of Check matches. If you happen to can bat lengthy sufficient to attain 450, you will give extra time to pitches to point out put on and tear and in flip it helps the spinners. However the prime order is not batting lengthy sufficient,” Prasad mentioned.
His former choice committee colleague Devang Gandhi put it succinctly when he mentioned enjoying spin bowling is an issue for some years now.
“Previously few years, most state groups have been making ready inexperienced tracks and on these tracks; you’ll be able to hardly bowl your frontline spinners for 10-12 overs in a day. There’s a dearth of high quality spinners in home cricket as the main focus has been on tempo.
“Solely when groups want a consequence within the closing spherical, they put together a rank turner. Check cricket is about adaptability and we have to have defence in opposition to spin. Take a look at ‘Large 4’ – Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly, if want be, they might additionally graft in opposition to spin,” Gandhi, who was Delhi’s Ranji coach final season, mentioned.
Prasad additionally provided an attention-grabbing take about younger batters in home cricket.
“Twenty years again, you did not have the idea of throwdowns. The highest gamers in the event that they needed to bat additional hour can be in opposition to both pacers or in opposition to spinners as a substitute of taking throwdowns for 45 minutes.
“The spinners aren’t flighting the ball sufficient and batters simply negotiate the flatter trajectory,” Prasad mentioned.
Gandhi was sensible in his evaluation on whether or not this could have an effect on the workforce’s possibilities in Australia.
“It will not as all it’s essential to do is regroup. It is a good bunch of cricketers and Australia will not provide you with green-top or seaming wickets. India’s drawback is seaming or turners, so we’ve got each probability of doing nicely Down Beneath,” the previous opener mentioned.
Prasad feels that India did miss a trick by not choosing Cheteshwar Pujara for the Australia sequence, given his previous file in opposition to them in the previous few excursions the place he performed 1000 deliveries on a median.
“Pujara simply scored a double hundred within the Ranji Trophy. He brings that have and solidity which the Indian workforce requires in Australia.
“I really feel, in the event that they needed to choose Nitish Reddy, you might have waited for no less than one India A match and brought it from thereon,” Prasad mentioned.
However each Dahiya and Gandhi had a divergent view on this subject.
“Look Pujara has been phenomenal for India however with due respect, the double hundred got here in opposition to Chhattisgarh, which does not boast of greatest home assault. It was a match the place 1000 runs had been scored and each groups acquired some extent,” Dahiya mentioned.
Gandhi additionally felt that if the present choice committee has determined to maneuver on from Pujara, then it isn’t prudent to look again.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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