There have been quite a lot of sensational moments while Team India was playing against Australia in a 4 Test series. First, a sudden decision of MS Dhoni to quit the Test captaincy came as a big shocker for many of his supporters. Thereafter the focus shifted to the fact weather Team India, playing under newly appointed test captain Virat Kohli, will be defeated with the margin of 4-0 or will they be able to facilitate a bit of face saving by drawing one or two encounters. Although given the repeated poor performance of our bowlers, no one even dare to imagine that Team India could register a victory against Australia in their back yard. The capability of Indian bowling attack has obviously become the matter of anxiety for one and all. We have seen a hell lot of reactions from around the globe and many more will follow.
So now the former cricket captain Anil Kumble has said the heavy criticism of the Indian bowling after the just-concluded Test series loss against Australia was apparently justified. Kumble stressed that India do possess a few quality bowlers who can bowl the opposition out twice in overseas conditions in Tests but their progress needs to be monitored regularly to maximize their potential. Kumble said “Some portion of the criticism is justified. We have the quality of bowlers, it’s just trying to see who can adjust to the Test format and then choosing your best four bowlers who you think can pick up 20 wickets, that’s also been an issue.”
He also emphasized the combination of bowlers should be finalized once you assess the condition and the pitch, and then select the best possible outfit who can yield 20 wickets. He opined “We have gone into this theory of three seamers and one spinner the moment we sit on an aircraft which travels more than seven hours – that’s the mindset. If your 20 wickets are going to come with two spinners and two fast bowlers, so be it. If it comes with three spinners and one fast bowler so be it.”
He stressed his opinion by quoting the example of the team selected for the first Test in Adelaide, where on a strip known to help spinners, Indians only fielded debutant tweaker Karn Sharma. Kumble asked “So who got wickets for Australia then? If you look at the top two bowlers, it was one spinner and one fast bowler.”
It is high time that the administrators of Indian cricket take note of the valuable suggestions given by various former Indian cricketers and evolve the best possible solution. This is needed both ways, for the short term measure and as an effective long term planning for all inclusive growth of the Indian bowling attack under all circumstances. This is the question of survival of great Indian cricket after all.