After India snatched the 2024 T20 World Cup from the jaws of certain defeat, fans started wondering how much higher can the team really soar. Well, they did take a leap alright. Sadly, it has been straight down.
It was supposed to be the start of an exciting new era, with Gautam Gambhir as the coach and a new set of players getting ready to take the team forward.
However, within a span of less than six months, Indian cricket has been shaken to its core, losing every major assignment and going on an unprecedented run of losses across formats.
An unexpected ODI series loss in Sri Lanka, followed by a historic Test whitewash at home to New Zealand and then a meek surrender of the Border Gavaskar Trophy to Australia has put enormous strain on the team and management.
Not only did India mess up a golden chance to qualify for the World Test Championship, but also ruined the balance of the team with abrupt retirements (Ravichandran Ashwin) and voluntary dropouts (Rohit Sharma).
No one knows where the team will land over the coming days. The next major assignment is the Champions Trophy, which is sure to decide the immediate future of several players.
But before that, there is a full white-ball series between India and England. The five T20 and three ODI tour begins in Kolkata on Wednesday and will provide both teams an excellent opportunity to iron out any flaws before the Champions Trophy, which will be held in similar conditions in Pakistan and UAE from February 19.
Time running out for Gambhir
While the spotlight is rightly on ageing and misfiring batting stars Rohit and Virat Kohli, questions are being asked by the Indian board about the dramatic fall in performance under coach Gambhir.
The former opener and two-time World Cup winner came in making all the right noises, with invigorating remarks about putting the team first, moving away from the star culture, and so on.
While the T20 team has benefited in the absence of senior players, going on a stunning run of 22 wins in 22 matches, the longer format teams have nose-dived.
The disastrous form of Rohit and Kohli, the overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah, and the sudden spurt in dressing room leaks and talks of mistrust within the camp mean the team is at a breaking point.
India have not lost a T20 series to England in a decade, and judging by recent results, could end that streak as well. If India lose both the T20 and ODI series to England, it will mark the beginning of the end of Gambhir’s short yet explosive tenure as coach.
Only victory in the subsequent Champions Trophy will provide Gambhir any breathing space, with the new Indian board management running out of patience with the senior players and management.
Jacob Bethell the next superstar
England have a seemingly endless supply of quality young white-ball players, but Jacob Bethell is a class apart.
On paper, he is a handy all-rounder but in reality, he is a top quality left-handed batsman who is also a reliable left-arm spinner.
There are players who simply look the part. Bethell’s stance and technique point to his tremendous potential. He is only 21 and has already made quite the impression in red and white-ball cricket.
He scored three fifties in as many Tests in New Zealand batting in the top order in a victorious campaign for his team. He has easily transitioned to T20 cricket, putting in sizeable contributions with bat and ball for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.
The tour of India could well establish him as the lynchpin of England’s white-ball team as his spin could become even more effective. Bare in mind, the Champions Trophy will also be held on Asian wickets, making him arguably the most vital member of the English contingent.
Time for Archer to rise
England have waited a long time to get Jofra Archer back on the field following a tremendous introduction to the international stage that culminated in the 2019 ODI World Cup triumph.
Multiple injury setbacks and surgeries have derailed a once promising career, with England hoping to extract whatever they can from the 29-year-old’s body in white-ball cricket.
Archer still harbours hopes of playing all formats, but realistically speaking, white-ball cricket is where he can look to deliver for an extended period.
Archer will, however, have to show that he can consistently bowl at high pace in successive matches. Otherwise, he might find it difficult to be a guaranteed starter going forward.
Archer and Mark Wood offer extreme pace options for England, which sits perfectly well with the reliable seamers of Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse. What’s more, almost all England bowlers are handy batsmen.
