Category: T20 World Cup 2022

India at WC Knockouts – (maybe) an honest rant!

Adelaide, Nov 10, 2022: 
India loses yet another ICC World Cup Semifinal, perhaps in the most disturbing way possible. 20 overs, defending a seemingly par 168, India failed to contain runs and failed to take wickets. Is this what we all waited for, for so long? The amount of cricket India’s played over the last 1-2 years building up to the T20 World Cup might find themselves questioning its worth. To lose a game is one thing, to keep losing crucial games is the other, but to not even pick up a single wicket and consistently concede over 10 runs an over is criminal. The fact that it came in an ICC semi-final made it an even grave offense.

The unending list of heartbreak moments for Indian cricket fans, since 2013

2013, is when India won its last ICC Trophy – going unbeaten throughout the tournament and not once not being convincing. All the subsequent tournaments – T20 World Cup 2014, ODI World Cup 2015, T20 World Cup 2016, Champions Trophy 2017, ODI World Cup 2019, World Test Championship Final 2021, T20 World Cup 2021, and now, T20 World Cup 2022 – India’s managed to bottleneck in critical situations every single time. They’ve reached 3 Finals and 4 Semi-Finals in the said 8 tourneys, each ending in a debacle – every time the approach was called into question, avoidable mistakes took to blame and the underlying misery was brought to the surface. Talk about mentality and it only seems to have gotten stronger, criticize the skills and they continue to blow our mind away, upcoming talent? Does not cease to exist (and surprise), and yet, India’s found ways to ‘choke’ in important situations. The Indians have been caught lacking the approach, the intent, the definition of their own roles in the team, and at times even the cricketing sense (Shami’s overthrow being the latest example) far too often in these knockouts. Bilateral series have staged some clinical performances, but the phrase “45 mins of poor cricket” has emerged as THE haunted lane for Indian cricket at ICC tournaments. 

Life’s much more at ease if there were specific causes to address; there have been none. Building up to this World Cup, just like any other ICC tournament in these last few years, India’s had some memorable performances that have shaped up well with all the right combinations, and winning mindsets and have gone on to win almost every T20I series that they featured in. The Indian Premier League (IPL) – considered to be a gold mine for new talent also delivered its bit with players like Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, and Deepak Hooda amongst others coming to the fore and doing the job for the team more often than not. The likes of Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravi Ashwin found their way back into the Indian side on the backs of staggering individual performances. It would be a fair argument to talk about the exclusion of a Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, or a Shreyas Iyer, but even that emerges to be only an equal bargain. India has also done exceedingly well in Tests during the team winning the unconquered frontiers, multiple times. Where does it all go wrong then?

Except for Suryakumar, Virat (in pic), Hardik, and Arshdeep, none else managed to leave a mark for Team India, this T20 World Cup 2022

Maybe the sheer amount of cricket played in a calendar year takes a toll. Virat Kohli in his recent return from a month-long break from sport talked about how the time away helped him regain perspective and confidence. It’s often about how the player feels about themselves and their game and is important to give them the time to relax and recuperate. The current schedule might not allow the Indian players that. The elongation of IPL into a 3-month long cricket festival is slated to strain the workload even further – which leads me to think if the debate about IPL not being healthy for international cricket actually stands ground. Yes, IPL is served as a breeding ground for Indian youngsters, but at the same time has often injured players – thereby affecting their national team availability. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav amongst others have all suffered from these IPL-related injuries at crucial points in their careers. Moreover, India’s “monopoly” when it comes to IPL, has seen it prevent 1. Indian players to play in foreign T20 Leagues and 2. (as per reports) find itself a 3-month window without any international cricket being played. While the brand, money, and eyeballs the league connects could perhaps justify both scenarios, it is imperative to understand that a domestic league would never find itself above International cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah’s stress fracture was what got the IPL debate started. India missed his services dearly in this T20 World Cup, to say the very least

The involved financials, generated revenue streams, and the gathered power from the league is inarguably BCCIs biggest gain, but a structure more conducive to international cricket is truly, the need of the hour. Look at fellow other countries like England, and Australia and they possess their own domestic leagues that often run in parallel with even their own international games. The kind of response garnered by both cricket boards still remains comparable to their international cricket-watching audiences. And that makes me wonder if India should take down the same path as well.

Perhaps, let the players decide what leagues they want to be a part of, let the international schedule be widespread, inclusive and yet a lot reduced, and let IPL be run as another side hustle rather than a mainstay. After all, prioritizing one breed of cricket for another looks like the only way forward.

All said India are down and out of the World Cup. A million theories will seek postulation but the only one that matters is the one for the captain, team, and team management. A Home ODI World Cup is just about around the corner in 2023 and I only hope India have their eyes set. Just like we had a Wankhede 2011, I believe we do have a Motera 2023 in us. “And then 10 years later…..” would then be a happy story to tell.

Virat Kohli’s last chance to make the cut for the T20 World Cup

There has been a lot of talk about Virat Kohli’s diminishing form and especially his unusual ways of getting dismissed. Let aside the fact that he hasn’t scored a century in the last 3 years – which in itself is a debacle given his past record – the ex-Indian skipper has seemed to have lost his command over his batting. The expectations that he built for himself, in that brief 3-4 year phase after the 2015 ODI World Cup have perhaps been a reason to weigh him down in these recent times. So much so that the divide in opinions on whether he should be a part of the upcoming T20 World Cup squad is right there for the entire cricketing world to see. And inarguably so, as much as every ounce of me would want to advocate for Virat’s place in the WC squad, the Asia Cup scheduled to take place in the UAE this month might well be Virat’s last go at that coveted spot.

“It is just one decision that the selectors have to take and the rest of the team will select itself,” said Harshal Bhogle Live on Cricbuzz the other day. Not only do I believe it to be true, but I also wonder how significant it is to have Virat in the right shape and how important it is to give him the opportunity to flourish. Zimbabwe, for me, would have been the most ideal to start after the brief “break”; either Virat himself or the team management thought otherwise. In retrospect, maybe it’s okay and it gives Kohli some more time to introspect and work on his game and his mindset. His technique for the last few years has been a textbook spectacle for all of us to witness and is about time that the reminiscent memory of the Virat Kohli we know comes back to life.

The grin on Virat’s face is there for all to see after his dismissals these days

It is not going to be an easy way ahead mind you. The Indian cricket team is evolving. Virat’s no longer the Indian captain in any formats, Ravi Shastri’s no longer the Indian Head Coach and the team’s approach, especially with respect to the T20s, is changing drastically. From being a team that would build an innings brick by brick, to being one that would fire in, short but effective packets of burst, the team, and each and everyone involved in the process have traveled a significant distance. The last couple of Indian T20I series has been a clear indication of the team’s modern lookout for the game and it will be important to see how Virat manages to fit in. Needless to say, he is still the team’s most experienced batter, still the best when it comes to numbers – even in these last 3 years of his misery, and still the most trusted in crunch situations.

As much as it is a test of Kohli’s character, it is a test of our fans as well. As fans, we found our happiness in these last few years and resided in stellar batting performances from the craftsman year after year. It is our duty to allow him at least half the time to get back to where he belongs. It’s as easy to succumb to external pressure as difficult as it is to keep one’s sanity in check. To carry the hopes of 1.4 billion people on your shoulders, to be responsible and/or respectful of their opinions, and still to be able to switch on/off instantly is a superpower that not all possess. We have all been witness to careers being both uplifted and looked upon due to sheer pressure. However, as yet, Virat looks to be in the right frame of mind and shape and has been vocal about trusting his process. He’s shown glimpses of his true self every now and then but hasn’t quite managed to be as significant. The fortune gods have been very harsh on him every passing day, and yet, the fight has been on. He hasn’t sought any sort of sympathy or obligation towards Indian cricket, but it is his past service that’s earned him these “extra” chances, and rightfully so. He’s fought his way out of the slump in the past (England 2014 being the only instance) and is about time he does it once again.

Virat vs his Fortune more than his Virat vs Opponents

The emergence of Rohit Sharma as a leader and Rahul Dravid as a coach in the meanwhile also seems to be working out well for the tea, – from the outside. I am sure the two have had their share of discussions with Kohli and clarity/stability would’ve been attained. The upcoming Asia Cup is a litmus test for Virat, given the current T20 World Cup. I would still consider him going back to the domestic circuit and fighting his way back into the side for the rest of the tournaments in the coming years. At least 4-5 years of cricket left in him, it’ll be a pity if we don’t see him there till then. 

As the RCB fan in me would say, “Hope binds you together and should never be let gone until the very last”. I believe the world is set to witness another Virat Kohli – in his prime.

Time holds answers.