- The aftermath of the Indian cricket team’s defeat in the recently concluded 50-over World Cup would have brought out the subject sentiment in the majority of the crazy fans as well as pundits alike. Remember, in a cricket-crazy country like India, there is no dearth of opinion makers – though unsolicited – to voice passionate viewpoints on what should be the roadmap for the entire team as well as individual superstars. As the wiser and more mature people would advise sagely, life has to move on and time is the best leveler, Team India has moved on from the distressingly demotivating defeat in the finals of the World Cup against the eventual champions Australia. Easier said than done to swallow the disappointing loss, but must move on, you see.
PC: Team Coach
- The moot point to ponder over here is whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India has made up its mind to look forward to the future rather than spend time on the lost opportunity. It looks like the BCCI mandarins have made a wise decision in extending the contract of the Head Coach Rahul Dravid and support staff who must be accorded due credit for instilling a sense of domination and professionalism hitherto unseen in the Indian cricket team of yesteryears. The way Rohit Sharma led the team displayed an attacking brand of cricket right through the World Cup was an eye-opener that set up the team to perform admirably. It’s another matter altogether that Team India faltered at the last hurdle failing to lift the Cup in the finals.
- However, the question about continuing with some of the superstars of Indian cricket like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ashwin in the shortest version of the sport continues. Mind you, the T20 World Cup is just six months away scheduled to be held in the West Indies and the USA. Looking around, it indicates how much the Indian Premier League has contributed to not only popularizing the game to every nook and corner of the country but also succeeding in unearthing a huge cache of talented cricketers unafraid to take the plunge with tremendous tenacity and dare-devilry. There are young and supremely talented cricketers sprouting up within the ecosystem courtesy of the IPL and some of them are already donning Team India’s colours with great aplomb.
PC: BCCI
- As such, the BCCI and the selectors will not mind pushing ahead with the introduction of those talented cricketers prepared to take on the challenges of international cricket. However, it makes cricketing sense to persist with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to represent Team India for the next couple of years at least. I am of the strong opinion that Rohit Sharma should lead the Indian team in the ensuing T20 World Cup. His tremendous experience, overwhelming presence, cricketing acumen, and attacking instinct is still intact which will come in handy in the shortest version of the game. The same applies to Virat Kohli as well as both these stalwarts are still left with at least a couple of years of quality cricket. The selectors should stick with them.
