Time for India to look back at the transition staring at them in their eyes
The year was 2011. A full-strength Indian side, with several experienced albeit ageing players boarded the flight to Australia to take on a home team, that many felt was the weakest in a long time, particularly in the bowling department.
With that factor in mind, this was touted as India’s best chance to win a Test series Down Under. There was excitement in the air and hopes were high from fans back home.
However, things turned sour and quickly, too. India lost chasing in the fourth innings at Melbourne and that would proved to be their lightest defeat in the series. Three heavy defeats, two by an innings, succeeded the Melbourne loss. At Sydney. At Perth. At Adelaide.
The alarm bells were ringing and ringing loud. Change was no longer a passing thought, it had become a necessity.
Two men, who had found their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in Adelaide in 2003, decided that it would be at Adelaide, where the sun on their careers would set.
In March 2012, in a conference room with people twice more than what it could accommodate, Rahul Dravid bid adieu to the game. Five months on, his trusted partner from Adelaide 2003- VVS Laxman- called time as well. Nostalgia flowed, as it does when giants leave the scene.
But in their retirement lay a chance for India. To blood in young players and help them ease their way into international cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara had got a look-in both at home and in South Africa and he was zeroed in to fill Dravid’s shoes at Number 3.
At number 5, Suresh Raina initially got a chance to revive his Test career, but when that move did not work out, India opted for Ajinkya Rahane- a player who had warmed the benches right through the tour of Australia in 2012, despite averaging in excess of 60 in first-class cricket, at the time. The batting transition had begun, with Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Rahane at the helm.
Fast forward 10 years later. We are in 2021 and like then, there are talks of India winning their first ever Test series in a country, this time it is in South Africa. Many called this the weakest South African team in many a year, but here we are sitting on our sofas at home and wondering how the result went 1–2 against our favour.
And just like in 2012, the burning questions in 2022 surround India’s no.3 and India’s no.5.
In the 10 years between Dravid and Laxman leaving the game to Pujara and Rahane taking over, a lot has happened and to be fair to the latter duo, the first half of the decade seemed pleasant. Pujara got runs on most overseas tours and Rahane seemed India’s best player away from home.
The second half, however, has been unconvincing to say the least. Pujara’s overseas form has been mixed, with a few good performances scattered between spells of inconsistencies. But it is Rahane’s batting decline, that has been staggering.
From being a sure starter to becoming the vice-captain to Virat Kohli, his fall has been disappointing. He rose in the eyes of many when he led India to a once-in-a-generation Test series win in Australia last year, but it is his batting, with the odd big score scattered between a host of low scores, which is under the spotlight.
Both have got a very, very long rope to return to run-scoring ways on a consistent basis. But it does seem like that now that rope needs to be cut and like them, all those years ago, two others deserve their chance.
In 2012, Dravid was 39. Laxman 37. The decision to retire altogether from international cricket was not too difficult for both.
In 2022, Pujara and Rahane will turn 34. Unlike Dravid and Laxman, they have age on their side, but not the performances.
But unlike 2012, India, in 2022, have reliable options to replace Pujara and Rahane. In Hanuma Vihari, they have a player with a sound technique, sound enough to open the batting for India in a Boxing Day Test no less and he could be given his opportunity at 3.
And in Shreyas Iyer, they have a player, who has made a Test hundred on debut, has shown himself to be able enough to play both pace and spin and he could come in at number 5.
By retiring, Dravid and Laxman made the decision to transition an easy one for everyone involved in Indian cricket. In 2022, it is the Indian management that must take the harsh decisions. India are 4th in the WTC table and have a couple of home Tests coming up, which could be ideal to start the transition.
In 2012, in their first Test minus Dravid and Laxman, India trounced New Zealand with Pujara scoring a big hundred. In 2022, India must give a new guy a chance to settle in, for the players’ good, for the team’s good and for its future.
A transition is staring at them in their eyes. It is time they looked back at it, not away from it.
