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| Dhawan gets out a short ball, again. Image courtesy- Cricinfo, BCCI |
Rohit Sharma's test career was in similar boat as Yuvraj Singh's was, few years back. Brilliant in ODIs and floundering in tests, especially in conditions where bowlers had help. Guptill, too, would nod in agreement.
At the fag end of 2017, Rohit Sharma got another look-in in tests, after Karun Nair had been dropped from squad failing to follow up after the triple ton. Rohit grabbed his chance. At home, he hit a spate of half centuries in perfect conditions for batting, coming at a situation when India were comfortably placed, with runs on board and probably pondering over declaration on nice comfortable batting tracks. This made Kohli give Rohit a preference over Rahane in South Africa, the seasoned middle order bat and the vice-captain of Indian test team. Rahane had a brief drop in form against touring SL, but his away record in testing conditions makes him one of the first choice batsman in this squad.
And Rahane was dropped. For Rohit Sharma. In SA.
Result? 21 runs in 2 innings in Capetown. 21 runs overall in 148 balls.LBW in first innings, bowled by playing on in second. In question comes the foot movement. And he walks back to the pavillion, where Rahane is sitting.
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Shikhar Dhawan has been a lucky man. A man who knows how to grab his chances when holding by a thread. He made a late entry in the squad, in which he was initially dropped, against SL in SL, and scored a big ton to stake his claim. From being fourth choice opener in the squad, he made it to eleven and then scored a daddy ton to win confidence of his captain. He continued to do so in ODIs and tests against SL. That "earned" him a place ahead of the far talented and better technically equipped KL Rahul. Thrown into adverse conditions, he edged and tried to manufacture square of the wicket shots and eventually fell to short balls twice in Capetown.
Result? 32 runs in 2 innings- unconvincing edges and reluctant bat movements. As an opener. In SA. Cardinal sin.
Result? 32 runs in 2 innings- unconvincing edges and reluctant bat movements. As an opener. In SA. Cardinal sin.
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Both of the mistakes were made in selection.
Both were similar.
Both involved picking players based on very recent form against a weak opposition at home.
Both involved hoping to translate ODI success of a couple of players to tests.
Both batsmen failed completely.
Both were similar.
Both involved picking players based on very recent form against a weak opposition at home.
Both involved hoping to translate ODI success of a couple of players to tests.
Both batsmen failed completely.
Did Kohli learn?
Did the selectors learn to use Ranji as criteria for test selection and not ODIs?
Did the selectors learn to use Ranji as criteria for test selection and not ODIs?
Did India miss the Capetown win due to bad selection?
No one knows. But the thought process is frustrating. It will lead to a bad example setting. There are players in Ranji grinding season by season to go in tests. The selection system made us lose Capetown. It's time we wake up before too many Capetowns go away.
