How Virat set the ton!

A batter after reaching a century is better off being at the non-striker end for an over or two while his focus comes back. Kohli knew all that and so didn’t miss out this time around

There are three Test match series going on in various parts of the world as of writing this. Two of those are most interesting because the competing teams seem evenly matched and the result could go either way. The series in Sri Lanka has begun with Pakistan winning the first Test but after a few missed heartbeats. 

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Though Pakistan are the better balanced team, the Lankans are fighting it out and not giving up till the last ball is bowled. In England too, the series is taking an interesting turn with England at the end of the third day’s play showing why they are a different team than the one that donned the colours two years back. If the Manchester weather holds and England win, then we could be in for a cracker of a final Test match at The Oval.

Here in Trinidad though it looks so one-sided that there are barely a few hundred people at the ground to support the home team the West Indies. Most of those are the Indians living overseas who have come to see their favourite team India.  They were not disappointed as they saw a good opening stand between skipper Rohit Sharma and newcomer Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Jaiswal lost patience

Then Virat Kohli celebrated his 500th international appearance with a century. After seeing the first few deliveries it was apparent there was no devil in the pitch and a batter had to be overconfident or complacent to miss out on a hundred. Jaiswal lost patience and reached out to a widish half-volley and was caught at deepish backward point and Rohit didn’t quite go to the pitch of the ball to be bowled. 

Kohli on the other hand, didn’t miss out as he had in the first Test match and duly got a century. What that showed is that it’s not just talent but the ability to understand the opposition, the pitch and the conditions to get a big score. 

Also Read: IND vs WI Test 2023: Centurion Virat Kohli 'charged up' when faced with challenges

There are three or four danger areas for a batter. One is at the start of his innings when he is yet to come to terms with the pitch and get his footwork going, the second is when he has reached a half-century and has lost focus for a brief while as he savours the moment and acknowledges it to the crowd and his teammates, the third is when he is in his 90s when he realises the prospect of getting a century and so can play a rash shot in trying to get there quickly and lose his wicket. 

The fourth is after getting a century when there’s a sense of achievement and joy that leads to lapse in concentration. Like after getting to a 50, a batter after reaching a century is better off being at the non-striker end for an over or two while his focus comes back. Kohli knew all that and so didn’t miss out this time around.

The runs scored by Rohit  and Kohli against this West indies attack begs the question what did the selectors learn that they didn’t know already. Wouldn’t it have been better to try out some youngsters and see how they take to Test cricket or is it that the selectors don’t want any sort of challenge from the younger lot to the established players. 

Also Read: Mauled and humiliated: The rise of West Indies declinism in cricket

Now that Ajit Agarkar has come on board as the Chairman of the selection committee let’s see if there is going to be any change in the approach to building a team for the future or if it’s going to be the same old story of the Indian team being the bridesmaid but not the bride.

Apart from the Test series mentioned above, the other interesting cricket is the Major League Cricket in USA. The initial signs are most encouraging and the pitch has played an important role. It has a true bounce that has given the bowlers a bit of help as also allowed batters to play through the line. The crowds have been great too and it looks as if MLC is here to stay.

The growth of other leagues has caused concern in the old powers with their marquee tournaments, the Big Bash and The Hundred losing some players who will be preferring the other better paying leagues. So they have prevailed on the ICC to ask these new leagues to pay 10 per cent of the players fees to the Board of the country he comes from. The IPL too has been doing that for the last several years. 

Question of real clout

The question that needs to be asked though is whether the Australian and English Boards are also paying 10 per cent to the Boards of the countries from where overseas players are coming from, for their marquee tournaments. If the answer is no, then the question is why not when other Boards are being asked to pay 10 per cent for the overseas players in their leagues. There must be one rule for all, isn’t it? Or are the old powers exempt? Now you know what I mean by saying that the BCCI may be the richest but the real clout is still with the old powers.

Professional Management Group

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