What does the Indian Test team need after BGT loss? New batting template and Jasprit Bumrah as captain

The chaotic Test tour is over, India’s winning streak in Australia has ended and now is the time for some dispassionate evaluation. It’s important to look back to find the way forward.

The second last day of the series could be a good start. When Rishabh Pant returned to the dressing room after his 33-ball 61, India stood up and clapped. After his subdued 40 from 98 balls in two hours in the first innings, the daredevil was back to his old ‘Gabba’ self, it was said.

His first-ball six off Scott Boland and his trademark tumbling boundary to square leg were praised to the skies. There was no talk about the dropped catch and the mishits that luckily fell between fielders.

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Risk-taking and restlessness were also the reasons for other Indian dismissals. In Sydney, Shubman Gill was out twice when he jumped out of the crease to attack. Nitish Reddy’s innings ended when he had poked at an imminently leaveable first ball. During the entire five-match series, Virat Kohli has been anxious in dealing with the ball outside the off-stump. Rohit Sharma too, earlier in the series, failed to put his head down and find his form.

Now, with Sharma set to retire, one hopes that the BCCI doesn’t get unduly adventurous and give the captaincy to a batsman. Bumrah is the only worthy candidate to be named India’s long-term Test skipper. (AP) Now, with Sharma set to retire, one hopes that the BCCI doesn’t get unduly adventurous and give the captaincy to a batsman. Bumrah is the only worthy candidate to be named India’s long-term Test skipper. (AP)

After the 3-1 loss, India needs to reassess their Test match approach. They need to ask themselves tough questions. Does this team have the players or the collective mindset to play consistent percentage cricket? How long can India’s winning chances in a Test depend on Pant’s horoscope?

As curtains come down on the Virat-Rohit era, contrary to common belief, the toughest challenge isn’t in finding a new captain or the batsmen to replace the two stalwarts. In Jasprit Bumrah, contemporary cricket’s sharpest brain, India have a worthy replacement.

And since Sharma and Kohli haven’t been contributing to the team’s cause as seniors of their stature should, there isn’t too big a void to be filled.

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What this Indian Test team needs is a new playing template and an identity. Till very recently, under Kohli and Sharma’s watch, Indian cricket’s buzzword was intent, even in Tests. The traditional Test plot of playing the waiting game, draining out the bowlers, and waiting for the third session to score runs was considered archaic.

Stone-walling was a cowardly act, stroke-making was a sign of courage and appreciated. There happens to be a certain homogeneity about the Indian batting line-up with every player representing the same approach to the game: It is Brown Bazball.

India have enjoyed success but they have also become predictable. They hadn’t even quite ruled world cricket. The World Test Championship triumph was beyond them. And late last year, as the first sign of Sharma’s fading captaincy aura, India also suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand.

India’s Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli wait for play to start on day three of the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. (AP Photo) India’s Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli wait for play to start on day three of the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. (AP Photo)

The Kohli and Sharma period in Indian cricket was memorable but those can’t be institutionalised norms. Their winning formula wasn’t strong enough to be set in stone, to be followed by all future teams. There was a need for a rewrite.

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What matters in sports are results and not the commitment of the captain or the coach to a batting philosophy. The reason India couldn’t get the likely result of a draw in Melbourne but endedup losing tamely was the three unwarranted shots played by its premier batsmen.

Sharma and Kohli could have easily left the balls they got out on. They needed to play for time but they opted to assert their dominance. Pant too became a victim of his own image. He could have sent the ball bouncing on MCG’s sprawling turf for a four but he did what he is famous for — he tried to clear the ropes and was out caught.

Interestingly in cricket, the identity of a team gets defined only by the way it bats. More so in India, where run-making gets greater appreciation than the more difficult skill of taking wickets.

Now, with Sharma out of favour, one hopes that the BCCI doesn’t get unduly adventurous and give the captaincy to a batsman. Bumrah is the only worthy candidate to be named India’s long-term Test skipper. This could go a long way in changing the Indian team’s identity and bring about the necessary course correction.

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India’s captain Rohit Sharma, right, and teammate Virat Kohli leave the field after their loss in the second cricket test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP) India’s captain Rohit Sharma, right, and teammate Virat Kohli leave the field after their loss in the second cricket test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP)

After several decades of batsmen leading the team, Bumrah can bring about the changes that are begging to be made. The most successful bowler in the history of the game at this stage of his career, Bumrah has an astute brain and a neutral outsider’s view of the team’s batting approach. Unlike Kohli or Sharma, he wouldn’t have a batsman’s bias in framing the team’s run-making plans.

What does Bumrah know about batting, the uninitiated may ask? Bowlers spend a lifetime reading batsmen’s minds. Second-guessing them is second nature to them. An anecdote would help here. During the India-Pakistan World T20 game, Bumrah was up against Mohammad Rizwan with the game getting really close. With not too many runs left, captain Sharma played the Bumrah card early.

Conventional wisdom said Rizwan wouldn’t risk scoring big against India’s main bowler, he would just play him out. Bumrah knew the Pakistan mindset better. He guessed that Rizwan would actually attack him to shatter India’s morale and finish the game. Out came a slow off-cutter and dug into the pitch that fooled Rizwan who was anticipating a faster length ball. The stumps were shattered — Bumrah had well and truly turned the game India’s way.

The once-in-a-generation bowler also carries the angst of being an under-appreciated bowler in his own country. He has a point to prove. “I understand that our country loves big batsmen and fair enough, but for me, bowlers drive the game… we are the smart ones,” he has said in the past.

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Michael Vaughan who called Bumrah GOAT, said he had arrived at the revelation that Bumrah wasn’t at all a momentum bowler. (Reuters) Michael Vaughan who called Bumrah GOAT, said he had arrived at the revelation that Bumrah wasn’t at all a momentum bowler. (Reuters)

A bowler who the world dreads, and not batsmen who are sitting ducks, is more suitable to lead the side. Bowling aces like Pat Cummins for Australia, and earlier Anil Kumble for India, showed they bring the necessary poise and broader outlook to the job, without allowing fragile batting egos to muddle their thinking. Bumrah would also be the best load-manager of his own body.

A man of few words, Bumrah can’t be everybody’s friend. He is unlikely to be the 3 am captain like Sharma; nor is he driven by the us-vs-them narrative like Kohli.

Bumrah’s biggest achievement is his record-breaking numbers. World cricket’s most influential captain Imran Khan once said that the only way one can earn the respect of the dressing room is through performance. That will help Bumrah be the Big Brother who can help Pant find the mid-path. India doesn’t need to worry about the transition or the future. As Bumrah’s pace-partner Mohammad Siraj keeps saying in his viral tweet — “I am only believe on Jassi bhai, because game-changer he is the only guy.”

Forget the syntax, the grammar is perfect.

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