Kohli's India Is Ready to Cross The Border!

2-1, and one more to go. If you don't win the series now, you won't get another chance for next few decades. Those would be my words if I were the captain or a coach. Like Kabir Khan's "Sattar minute" speech. This IS the Chak De India moment for Team Kohli. India has drawn series only twice in 12 previous trips; in 1988-81 and 2004-05. They have a chance to write a new page in the history of Indian cricket.

Last time, India went to Sydney with a chance to win the series was in 2004-05, the test made more famous by Steve Waugh's retirement than the possibility of Australia's series loss. This time Kohli's India is one up already and they can't lose the series. However, I don't think this team is thinking of drawing the series like a few of its predecessor teams. They have, by and large, outplayed Aussies on their home turf. Taking a lead in Melbourne, gives them a great opportunity to conquer that final frontier in the Indian cricket's history. It's a rare opportunity to cross the Border from the coveted Trophy and convert it into Gavaskar Trophy; figuratively speaking.

India started off very well in Adelaide and in spite of the 4th innings fightback with the bat from Ausies bowlers, they were largely in driving seat. Pujara's 194 runs for the game on a wicket that offered a bit to the bowlers was the foundation upon which Indian pace bowlers built the victory. Kohli's unusual failure in the test went largely unnoticed largely due to outstanding performance from India's bowling unit; share of the spoils very evenly spread with Bumrah and Ashwin snaring 6 each followed by Shami's 5 and Ishan't 3. Kohli's belief that the wicket wasn't as bad to bat on as normal fifth day wicket, was epitomized by a marathon spell of 53 overs from Ashwin. Something that could be debated at Kohli's captainship appraisal, especially as it ended up being a pyrrhic victory due to aggravation of Ashwin's side strain that kept him unfit for next two tests. He is still unsure to play, as I write this a day before the Sydney test. One man's loss is another one's gain. Ironically it was Ashwin who made this statement before start of the test series as the teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw was ruled out of the first two tests. Indeed, Umesh Yadav and Ravi Jadeja will agree, as first Umesh and then Jadeja got an opportunity to play in next two tests. While Umesh disappointed, Jadeja proved that the Indian selectors got it wrong even on the fast and bouncy Perth track. While hindsight is wonderful and provides armchair critics like us some ammo, the main concern I had with four pronged pace attack was a serious weakening of the yet-to-fire Indian batting line up. India was extremely vulnerable at the top and the weak tail was made even more so by excluding a bowling allrounder. No amount of excellence in bowling can be offset by lack of runs on the board. Afterall, you need to make one run more than your opponent to win a game of cricket.

Jadeja's inclusion in MCG test was brought about only after the painful experience of surrendering the lead in Perth; and that too wasn't that easy. A few salvos fired by Indian experts, mainy Sunil Gavaskar, were still met by the bullish approach of the team management through Ravi Shastri's retort of critics "shooting blanks from million miles away". But when it mattered, Jadeja was brought in the XI for MCG test even after a lot of sound bytes from Australian media about the possibility of a bouncy and grassy MCG wicket being lot better than last year when it was ranked poor. On her part, the wicket fooled everyone including the curator by turning out to be a wicked witch, not dissimilar to many served in 80s in the subcontinent, being slow and low. Perhaps the coach's bravado was just an attempt at supporting his captain's bullish approach. It is widely known that this is Kohli's team more than India's; if unceremonious departure of previous Team India's coach is taken as an evidence. Perhaps Shastri the coach coaxed his mentor and guru Gavaskar to make a strong statement to help him convince his skipper in picking a right combination for the crucial test! One will never know what transpired in the selection meeting before the MCG test. Whether it was a providence or the "luck-by-chance" phenomenon, Jadeja's inclusion was timely as he took some crucial wickets, providing superb support to the pace trio. Equally importantly but  rarely acknowledged that he saved 20-30 runs in the field. His bat may not produce runs all the time, but by jove, his fielding is always 30+ for his team's scoreline. And in low scoring games, that could be an important factor.

Kohli to his credit, did not take a backward step even in defeat. His performance in the press conferences is consistent with his approach on the field. So far all the criticism about wickets and unavailability of key players have come from his opposite number. Tim Paine has complained that Australia has been serving up wickets to suit the opposition more than home team: "It's a frustration for us. You never go to India and get served up green wickets. They've come out here and we've served some wickets up that really suit them." He forgets one basic thing: India has an attack that suits all conditions now. Kohli never complained that one of his main bowlers and one who could also bat a bit was not available in the test where Aussies won. He has never lamented that his opening partnership became vulnerable due to an injury to the talented teenager Prithvi Shaw. Tim Paine also lamented unavailability of banned players; “If you took Pujara and Virat out of India’s side I think you would have the same conversation. If you have got world-class players that are not in your team, are they going to add to our team?”. Granted that Paine has grudgingly accepted that Indian bowlers have dominated his "inexperienced" batsmen, but not long back, Australian domestic cricket was hailed as the best in the world and Sydney grade cricket teams,being superior to many international teams. Certainly miles ahead of a domestic set up where "Jalandhar Railway Canteen Staff" serves tea and samosas to the batsmen to feast upon; where an average of 50 can be equivalent of 40 in Australian set up!! I don't know, but all I can see is that the test class batsmen have suddenly disappeared from Australian cricket set up like a proverbial dodo's tail. What is left is a background of whining more than acceptance of the opponent's superiority. A leopard can't change his spots, I guess!

Kohli has never complained about any kind of wicket that they have been served anywhere in 2018; be it England, Australia or South Africa. Indeed, at Wanderers, it was home batters who were more than happy to walk off mid way through a test match (the series was secured with 2-0 lead, I might add!). Indians, largely considered "lambs to the slaughter" on bouncy and fast wickets overseas, have shown tremendous resolve not only to play in difficult conditions but also give it back to the opponents in action and in verbals. Kohli has to be admired for instilling steel in the Indian side. You won't die wondering what Kohli's India will opt for when it comes to a test win overseas or at home. Perhaps, Kohli deserves a bit of leeway from his detractors for his apparently aggressive demeanor. It has definitely rubbed off on his team which is producing results. I can see a bit of Ian Chappel in Kohli, the skipper. The only danger being, aggression can sometimes create a blindspot that can make you miss a tactical withdrawal. Hopefully Kohli will learn to balance his aggression with tactical defense, as he has done, as a batsman. He is at least statistically, on the verge of becoming the most successful captain of India if they win the Sydney test and series. 

There are already signs of more whining from the Australian camp. The SCG wicket is deemed to be drier than usual and more suited to Indian spinners! The more successful spinner in the series so far has been Australian Nathan Lyon! India hasn't complained SCG may be tailor made for him. The fact is Aussies have realised it is better to give a wicket which will blunt Indian pace trio!! Most certainly Aussies are missing their most experienced two batsmen in Warner and Smith. But Australia's first class set up was always considered good enough to throw up players who can fill in the void seamlessly. Apparently, something is wrong somewhere and suddenly the loss of two players is considered an irreparable loss.The fact that this is largely due to opposition's superior bowling attack is being glossed over. If Australian bowling unit was considered (and even now it is) best in the world, logic says Indian batting line up has to be close to being best in the world! I think majority of Indian critics and fans will disagree with that.

Whatever may be the outcome, Kohli's India has wrested the initiative back from Aussies, that they surrendered after the Perth test; the winning margins in loss and win being very similar. It will be challenging for the Indian think tank to select correct XI; something they have often blundered in past 12 months. If the wicket is dry, and if Ashwin is still unavailable, it would be good to bring in the left arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav. This will require some juggling of the line up. The pace trio has been outstanding. But in my opinion, Ishant Sharma can make way for Hardik Pandya who will fill in for both Rohit Sharma and Ishant, giving Kohli the benefit of two spinners in Jadeja and Yadav, without weakening the batting; Rohit's output with the bat is not likely to be missed to be honest! That means, unfortunately, Vihari may still be stuck with the opening slot but he may remember this test match for a very very long time and very fondly!!

My XI for SCG will be: Agarwal, Vihari, Pujara, Kohli, Rehane, Pandya, Pant, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami and Bumrah.

Go India!!!