09 November,2016 08:30 AM IST | | Shishir Hattangadi
Team India's search for a fast bowling all-rounder like legend Kapil Dev continues; what a pity Irfan faded away
Former all-rounder Kapil Dev
Former all-rounder Kapil Dev
Kapil u00c2u0088Dev spoilt us Indians. When he burst on the scene during that goodwill tour across the border in 1978, Indian cricket was dominated by Gavaskar, Vishwanath and the great quartet of spinners.
The demands for a replacement for Kapil have been high because of the standards he set. As a fast bowling all-rounder, Kapil brought a balance and sometimes an extravagance in the team composition. His presence did help combat the opposition on seamer-friendly pitches or afford the team to play an extra spinner on dust bowls at home. The search continues over the years. Irfan Pathan in his pomp seemed a riposte for a bit till injury and a radical drop in speed gun readings deceived Indian cricket fans' expectations.
Hardik Pandya is a selection based more on perception and a punt that he may have the raw material to make an Indian fast bowling all-rounder. One needs to respect the wisdom and communication between the think tank of the India A and Indian teams for this selection.
It also makes one spare a thought for the wooden-spooned who trundle away year after year to draw eye balls from the muted status of the Ranji Trophy championship. The England team's skills at how they answer the hard questions asked by the Indian spinners, will be tested.
Top order needs to fire
The England top order will have to answer with dexterity and positivity to make their presence felt in the series. Looking back over the years Mike Denness and Tony Greig, and later Tim Robinson, Graeme Fowler, the much awaited rebirth of a Test batsman in Mike Gatting emerged on Indian pitches where they arrived. England, in the past, have competed well because the top batsmen succeeded.
This series will be no different. They have no Underwood, or a Swann to ruffle the Indian batting on pitches where Kohli's boys have been reared on, so the approach of the England batsmen will hold the key to how they shape up in this series.
For me, captain Cook and Root hold the key. Both have the pedigree, aura and the numbers to say to their team that runs on the board are runs the opposition have to work hard for and it's these two players who can set the trend in the locker room and in the middle. Expecting conditions to favour the home team is something England would have seen unmistakeably in Bangladesh and India will be no different. An Indian tour is often the launching pad for stars of world cricket especially for the opposition (Greenidge, Richards and Co come straight to mind).
Opportunity for youngsters
This is a huge opportunity for the young Indian batsmen who have got the nod through injury to others or an intuition that they may be ready for Test cricket. History tells us if the new brigade performs and get greedy for more, it could be a long comeback wait for those who have lost out due to fitness or form.
The writer is a former Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain
