Rohit Sharma and India got it badly wrong on day 1 in Bengaluru. And that’s what sealed the deal. Yes, India did have a chance on day 3 at 400-3, but then it was always going to be near-impossible after the 46 all out. Batting first was the wrong call, and India now find themselves in a situation where they have to win the remaining two Tests to not just win the series, but also stay in control of the WTC rankings.
What is interesting, however, is the reaction to India’s loss. Fans have not just started to question Rohit’s captaincy, they have also questioned Gautam Gambhir’s ability as coach. Some have said India don’t have a batting line-up of any worth, with batters like Rohit and Virat Kohli past their prime. A few are saying that except for Jasprit Bumrah, the other bowlers are all mediocre.
The truth is that this is a team that hasn’t lost a series at home in 12 years. The truth is also that this is very typical of Indian cricket. It was one bad game. That’s what it was. Rather, one bad call and one poor innings. But that seems enough for alarm bells to ring, and panic buttons to be pressed. It is as if everything has turned dire overnight.
The reality is that nothing has. Every team is entitled to one bad game and one wrong call. That’s what sport is all about. Failure is par, and learning from mistakes to make sure they aren’t repeated again defines a team. Rohit and Gambhir will indeed be aware of what is needed, and the players have seen enough of this to know they can’t make another mistake in Pune.
New Zealand played really well in Bengaluru. They almost always do punch above their weight. But despite all this, I expect India to bounce back and win the next two. I expect Rohit to make the right calls and the batters to bat better. I expect the spinners to bowl better and not let the tail wag. Finally, I expect the team to step up and deliver under pressure. That’s what they have done multiple times in the past, and are indeed capable of.
No one becomes bad overnight. It is unfair to even suggest that the bowling is below par. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj are match-winners and they have done so time and again. Unfortunately for Indian cricket, a defeat always triggers such extremes.
With just three days between the two Test matches, and with India likely to miss Rishabh Pant, the recovery time isn’t much. There is more to be done in the mind than anything else. Rohit will need to lead the recovery as captain and take the onus upon himself. By accepting the mistake, he already has taken the first step. He knows he has to do better. As batter and leader. He knows the team can’t afford a further slip-up.
For More Sports Related Content Click Here
With Rohit, that’s what you will get. No over-the-top reaction. He will try and keep the change room sane, for, as he said, the players know they failed in Bengaluru. At 400-3, India did have a chance. They could have scripted yet another miracle. That’s what Rohit will rue for a while. But then, what’s done is done. It can’t be changed, and the result is now a part of history. The 46 all out at home will remain a scar. Whether the Indians wear it on their sleeves and use it to make amends in Pune will again define the character of this team.
With Gambhir as coach, you know what you will get. He will make sure that the players are aware of what’s at stake. Rohit and Gambhir will indeed be tested in Pune. Their every call will be debated and discussed. But that’s what makes Indian cricket what it is. A national obsession of sorts, where failure is anathema. You just can’t lose is the message. And yet, you are playing a sport where you will come second-best on occasions.
Bengaluru, for me, was an aberration. This Indian side is good enough to mount a turnaround. Win the next two, and seal the series. Silence the criticism and take control. Pune is next, and that’s where the turnaround has to start. Or so we hope. For Rohit and Gambhir and every other player. It will not be easy against New Zealand, and that’s what will make for great Test cricket on home soil.
All of a sudden, a defeat has added to the drama. It is no longer just a Test series. Rather, is is about credibility and character. About mental strength and skill. India will need to bring it all out. Just hope the rain doesn’t play spoilsport.
Also Read: Rishabh Pant’s audacity gives India a unique X-factor in Test cricket