The hopes and aspirations of young cricketers and the fans of the Indian cricket team have sunk more profoundly than the Titanic submarine following the announcement of India's test squad against the West Indies. Although it may appear to be a ‘sinking experience,’ the drought of trophies won't last forever. Don't throw stones and break TVs just yet. After all, it's not like we're in the lifeboats of the Titanic, trying to survive the storm!
Ex-Indian cricketers, fans, and netizens have gone bonkers following the inclusion of certain new players into the test squad against the Windies. Not like they were tweeting about the incorporation of young blood into the squad following our dismal defeat in the World Test Championship finals. The outrage is justifiable and, of course, each one to their own. The one topic that took the cake was the curious case of domestic players not getting a call-up. We have had players from the past who have amassed unbelievable amounts of runs and wickets but never dawned on the Indian blues or were given a limited amount of opportunities. With the glorification of the Indian Premier League, 'viewing' talent has become more prevalent, and recognizing them has become easier for the fans, but the fans may pride themselves in the fact that they share the same opinion as the greatest Sachin Tendulkar about their aversion to picking test players from the IPL.
Although this has been the case for many years, let us debunk the true reasons why IPL players are scouted into the test team more frequently than domestic players.
IPL: Igniting the Flames of Fierce Competition
With all due respect to the players and state associations, I am not implying that domestic cricket is an inferior bet, but for all practical purposes, the IPL is essentially identical to international cricket. With the amount of international influence, coaching, and expertise that comes with having abroad players on the roster, the IPL is essentially as competitive as international cricket. It is, undoubtedly, the talent hub of Indian cricket, and teams frequently select the best players who fit the team's dynamics. With the glorification and increased competitiveness, it is only reasonable to select those who have shown themselves in the hardest league. The resounding contradictory viewpoints of fans claiming that IPL is the shortest format of the game can already be heard across my screen, but the point I'm trying to make is that the intensity of IPL is as high as international cricket's.
When Stars Dimmed.
As I've always said, sitting and analyzing is the easy part; going out there and performing is the difficult part. The majority of the players that had outstanding domestic achievements and were promptly picked for the Indian lineup underperformed. T.E. Srinivasan, V.B. Chandrasekar, Wasim Jaffer (statically disappointing), Vinay Kumar, Abhinav Mukundan, Debasis Mohanty, and even Ashok Dinda are among them. With all due respect to their individual hardships and attempts, they underperformed in international cricket. This might be ascribed to a lack of franchise cricket and other opportunities to improve, but every other cricketer who did well faced similar challenges. But luckily with the glorification of county cricket and an opportunity to play in foreign conditions, domestic giants will find their feet in World Cricket sooner than they could ever imagine. And even if they don't, they'll still have a great tan!
Bowling on Thin Ice: The Dearth of Seamers
It is generally believed that India is the land of spinners, and we Indians can take pride in the fact that we have produced legendary spinners such as R. Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, and Anil Kumble. It is something we pride ourselves on, but what concerns me is that despite the exceptional spinners, it is hard to find two good pace bowlers on the same team who have established themselves. Many coaches still adhere to the same ideology as the coach who told Kapil Dev that there are no seamers in India. Look up the number of wickets taken in the domestic circuit, and you'll find that most of them are taken by left-arm spinners or off-spinners. Besides affecting the quality of bowlers, it also affects batters who do not have enough experience or chance to face seething seamers. More green top bowler-friendly pitches in India could generate more seamers. After their domestic run, some batters were picked in the IPL, but they were unable to cope with the pace. It was apparent that we lacked experience, and this could prove disastrous.
If we were to scout players from domestic cricket or those who had outstanding performances in the League, we would almost certainly end up disappointed. I am not condoning the inclusion of white ball players in the test team, but the point is that if they have had respectable domestic results and have weathered the rigors of international competition, they are more than ready! As harsh as it may appear to have left out someone affectionately known as the "Don Bradman of India," who averages above 80, his time will come. It is unjust to dismiss the players without giving them a chance, but a new era will emerge sooner than later. All they have to do is be ready. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, but it did get destroyed in one.
Comments
Post a Comment