India plays 13 tests at home which will not only be a make or break season for many of its players, but will also decide India’s test team for the long-term.
The last time India played 13 tests in a single season was way back in 1979-80. The last time India hosted a five-test series was in 1986-87. This season marks the repeat of both. India will play 13 tests at home starting this Thursday over the next six months as well as host England for a five test series.
The Virat Kohli era in Indian cricket has got off to a good start. They won series’ in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean, though against potentially weaker sides, a win is always a win. Kohli presided over a 3-0 rout of a depleted proteas side which was the only series he has captained at home. The challenge only gets tougher from here as India will be hosting New Zealand, England and Australia over the course of this season. This may well turn out to be a make or break season for the team as well as for most of its players as it will ensure the composition of the test side over the long-term.
While Kohli has stressed on the ‘horses for courses’ formula, there will always be a selection dilemma in such an approach. Although questions have been raised over Shikhar Dhawan’s presence in the side owing to his patchy form, one cannot deny his ability to change the course of the game if he gets going. However, backing Dhawan too far would be unjust on someone like KL Rahul who has consistently grabbed whatever opportunities have been presented to him. To be fair, Rahul possesses a better technique as well as better form than Dhawan going into the series.
Similar is the dilemma between the selection of ‘daddy-hundred’ getter Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma. Pujara’s ODI record is nothing much to write home about which is similar to Rohit’s performance in the five-day format. However, the Saurashtra lad has never been given a longer rope in coloured clothing that his Mumbai counterpart has been at the test level. Pujara’s performance in the recent Duleep Trophy should make this case a no-brainer atleast for the New Zealand series as to who gets to bat one drop.
The squad for the series clearly has Kohli’s stamp on it. The over dependence on spin has been reduced with four fast bowlers ready to exploit the reverse swing on offer. What the team needs to be careful about is to force for the preparations of rank turners, a ploy which backfired miserably against England in 2012-13.
The BCCI has ensured that the huge dose of cricket reaches every corner of the country. This is evident from the six new test venues in Dharamsala, Rajkot, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Indore and Ranchi. With sticks on either side, the 22-yards get ready to begin a season that will separate the heroes from the stars and may well set our captain on the path of legend hood.
hormazfatakia 
Leave a comment