New Delhi: Not even England would have expected such a disastrous performance by India which the world champions delivered in the first three Test matches that dethroned them of the top spot in ICC Test rankings.India’s 196 runs drubbing at Lord’s was followed by 319–run thrashing at Trent Bridge and an innings defeat at Edgbaston. And with one more match still to go, Dhoni’s men are on the course of making Michael Vaughan’s prediction of India’s 4-0 white wash in England true.
This was certainly not expected from a team like India that has been on the pinnacle of Test cricket for last one year and was crowned ODI kings recently. From bowling to batting and fielding to temperament, India have been outperformed by their English counterparts in the series.
We, at dailybhaskar.com tried to figure out what actually hampered India’s performance and why the No.1 team suffered one of the worst humiliations of the recent times.
Too much cricket: Within days after beating Australia on home ground in September, India took on New Zealand. After thrashing the Kiwis in both Test and ODI, they went to South Africa only to level the Test series for the first time. The Test victory was followed by defeat in the 5-ODI series and victory in the only T20. Then came the ICC World Cup and prolonged IPL. By the time IPL got over, bags of the players were packed for the 3-Test and 5-ODI series in the Caribbeans.
Though few players opted out from the West Indies tour, the continuous cricket resulted in India below average performance in England.
IPL, it’s still on their minds: Cricket is all about commerce, at least in India. That’s what the rest of the cricket world has been ranting about. Indian cricketers have not disappointed the critics. So, one had Virender Sehwag carry his injury as captain of the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League till he thought his team was still in the running.
He opted out of IPL and decided to go in for treatment the minute his team was out of the reckoning. That meant he was out of the West Indies tour and the first two Test matches in England. He joined the team at Edgbaston but was out first ball in both innings.
Sachin’s sudden loss of form: Has the pressure of getting the 100th international century got to Sachin? Going by his current form, it certainly seems so. The mind games that began before the series were targeted at Sachin. Knowing him, he will come back with an answer. For the time being, though, India are struggling with the batting. Also read: Being No.1 is not important, says Dhoni
Poor bench strength: England replaced an injured Chris Tremlett with Tim Bresnan in the second Test. The result proved more lethal for their opponents. However, same is not the case with India. The absence of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan was felt in all three games as Indian bowling looked toothless.
The over dependence on Zaheer Khan in recent times has raised a big question for the selectors-Who after him? And ditto for the fab 3 (Sachin, Dravid and Laxman) of Indian batting who are at the brink of retirement.
Flat Indian tracks: Adjusting with green top has always been problem for Indian batsmen. And history speaks volumes about this as India have a tradition of losing the first encounter in countries like England, Australia and South Africa.
Even before the start of the England tour, former England great Ian Botham stressed that being No.1 by playing more in home condition is no feat for Team India and their real Test will be facing English pacer in England. Botham’s words have merit as Indian batsmen bite dust against English seamers.
It’s high time for the Indian board (BCCI) to provide the players green top back at home.
