The big IPL hangover before the WTC Final

 Will it be full circle for coach Rahul Dravid or just another Oval?

Two months of relentless travel, uprooting oneself from a hotel room every other day, packing, unpacking, and in-between that, playing cricket too. Staying switched on while playing that amount of cricket isn't easy, it showed in performances that could often be tardy. None more than in CSK’s fielding on the second night of the final. 

That the IPL takes a toll is putting it mildly. Some players dig themselves into a hole of fame, delusion; while that one knock or spell skyrockets you into overnight stardom, slated as the next big India prospect by caffeinated commentators; the decline can be unforgiving.  

Yet from this bunch of IPL warriors, a select few made it to the World Test Championship Final versus Australia, at The Oval from 7th June, 2023. While the time-difference between India and England is 4.30 hours, the gulf between a Test and a T20 league cannot be quantified. 

This was telling on the first day of practice. Every player barring Cheteshwar Pujara was in his IPL jersey. Pujara appeared in his Sussex gear. While coach, Rahul Dravid did his best impersonation of himself as the ‘Indira Nagar ka gunda’ ad, captain, Rohit Sharma offered an explanation: “You see, after the jersey sponsors have changed, we can’t just do it”. 

Team India’s jersey sponsors had changed from Nike to Adidas. While this baffled Dravid even more, “What does this even mean?”, an ever chirpy Axar Patel weighed in: "Adidas means All Day I Dream About Sport.”

The first practice session was called off prematurely. 

The next session was even worse. All the players appeared in CSK’s yellow jerseys. Apparently, it was a gift from Ravindra Jadeja. Everyone had the number 7 and Dhoni on their back.

At this point, Sachin Tendulkar, who vacations in England during the summers, appeared. After mixing with the players, he proceeded to the café where he started shooting a food video. Tendulkar had become an all-rounder on social media, sharing his posts on Instagram and Facebook, making a clear differential between them, as he did between formats. 

Dravid then roped in Tendulkar for a candid talk. Tendulkar started by compelling the boys to enjoy their cricket. “First of all, you must enjoy your cricket. It doesn’t matter what format you play, you must enjoy it.”

Old habits die hard, and this is where Dravid imitated Tendulkar. The boys couldn’t bring themselves to laugh, only when Tendulkar cracked up did they join in reluctantly. This was followed by questions.

Jadeja went first, “I’m finding it very hard to get out of the winning moment, and shift to Test format.” Tendulkar nodded. He advised him not to fight it and go with the flow. 

The next visitor was Dinesh Karthik, who reminded everyone he was on media duties. In the last few years, it was impossible to tell whether DK was a player or a soothsayer on air. 

Rohit Sharma, who finds DK both irresistible and irritable, pulled DK’s cheeks so hard it hurt. 

Dravid then beckoned Pujara – just like you all are finding it hard to shift from IPL to Test mode, here’s a player, who is faced with a challenge that’s the exact opposite. Pujara offered a weak smile and said that he too had been part of an IPL-winning side with CSK. Though this was true, it zapped most present. 

Dravid asked Ajinkya Rahane if as a freshly minted IPL champion he had any words of advice. Prompt in his reply, “Definitely. This is one such occasion where nobody should take the credit from the captain. Mahi bhai is an inspirational leader. Definitely, in Australia, I was able to implement a lot of learnings in our series win there. For which I would like to thank Mahi Bhai.” 

Virat Kohli led a chant of Mahi! Mahi! 

Recently retired again Rayudu, who was in talks with various leagues and counties, made a surprise entry. In his usual snappy way, Rayudu offered his two cents: “I have never had a problem adapting from IPL to Test cricket.” Everyone was transfixed. Perhaps Rayudu had the answers. Rayudu continued, “I’ve never had any problems adapting because I never played Test cricket.” 

RP Singh, known to once arrive surprisingly for a Test match in England, was in next. He said, matter of fact, “I was on my way back from USA, thought I’d check if I was needed or anything.”

This was lost on everyone except Dravid. RP Singh played his last Test match in August 2011 at The Oval. The current venue for the WTC Final. Before this, Singh had played a Test in April 2008. 

Dhoni was the Test captain then. He had beckoned Singh into the Test side. Dravid was Man of the series. India had lost the series 0-4. The series was soon after the IPL that year. CSK were the champions then. After the Test series, Dravid played his first and only T20 international against England. He made 31 with three 6s. 

It then dawned upon Rahul Dravid, Tests or T20s, perhaps he was the best man to talk about playing in England. He cleared his throat and started to speak. 

(However plausible this may sound, this is a work of fiction)

First published on cricket.com 

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Sachin Tendulkar's last innings was not about Sachin.

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Winning Solution: India to play Sri Lanka in England

Much has been made of India’s losing record in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). Not only are the conditions hostile, the home teams are hostile too.

What better than to play an old ally in the world’s most demanding cricket grounds. Too often India’s wins against Sri Lanka have been demeaned because the matches are played in Asia.

Not anymore. Ravi Shastri who was still gung ho after India’s series defeat said: “If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series (against West Indies and twice in Sri Lanka)

While Shastri was in for some sharp criticism for his comments as usual, BCCI’s latest ploy to play Sri Lanka in England has been welcomed by Indian cricketers both past and present.

Sachin Tendulkar welcomed the move saying that it was, “good for competitive cricket between the two neighbours.” He continued in his usual balanced way, “Sometimes neighbours have to get out of their comfort zone and play each other away. I look forward to India playing other neighbours like Bangladesh and Afghanistan out of Asia, it will make for good cricket”

When asked whether he rued not playing Sri Lanka in England, the Master Blaster answered with his usual straight bat, “No, there is a time for everything, those were different times, I was happy to play England in England and Australia in Australia, it was a different challenge”

Would playing Sri Lanka in SENA countries have helped Tendulkar reach 100 100s any faster one cannot say, but it could well help Virat Kohli overtake the record in much fewer matches.

Virat Kohli was prompt when he said, “If that happens, I will take it but for me it will always be His record. He was the first to get there. He did it with centuries in England against England, with centuries against Australia…”

When reminded that he too had scored centuries in Australia and now twice in England, Kohli was at his modest best – “It’s very sweet of you to say so, but I would’ve taken a few centuries less for a series win in England against England but that was not to be”.

Playing Sri Lanka in England could mean India will not play the host nation in their own backyard. A BCCI spokesperson was quick to respond, “This is not the case, we will continue to play ODIs and T20s in England…there is such a huge Indian population that comes to these games…as you would have seen, the same is not the case for the Test matches played there…then it ends up being a mostly English crowd…we are quite sure when India plays Sri Lanka in England, the Indians living there will be back in big numbers…we have to think about our people who love to see India win”

West Indies, also an old ally of the BCCI, that sent their team for Tendulkar’s retirement, is miffed by BCCI’s latest move. A WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) spokesperson was livid: “We would’ve have expected a few games in England, there is a sizeable population from the Caribbean in the UK and they will feel hard done by this move…all I can say is, if and when Kohli retires, I hope they remember us again. As for Michael Holding, his comments do not represent the West Indies or its people who are huge fans of Virat Kohli.”

Kumar Sangakkara, who has had commentary stints throughout the English summer was at his diplomatic best, “Yes, doing commentary for teams that do not feature SIRI LANKAAH has its own set of challenges. One cannot pick and choose the series you play or do commentary for…I’ll be pleased to do commentary for SIRI LANKAAH playing India in England or for that matter anywhere in the world.” When asked whether non-Sri Lankan commentators face certain challenges, he was deadpan though not without his trademark smirk, “I will be happy to help with the pronunciation of SIRI LANKAN names, especially the new players with long SIRI LANKAN names.”

Lasith Malinga, who will return to international cricket with the Asia Cup later this month, last played a Test match more than eight years back. While Malinga has no plans to return to play Test cricket, he is open to coaching assignments: “I played 30 Tests. Bumrah has played 6 Tests. I know him from IPL also. No problem if I know him from other team. I’m open to coach umm”

India’s top order that has an outstanding record against Sri Lanka, welcomed the move. Cheteshwar Pujara, who averages 57, 77 and 145 in the three series he has played against the Islanders spoke with a broad smile, “I cannot complain, I will be happy to play Sri Lanka on the moon too.”

While the immediate future looks bright, and a Test series win in England appears imminent, what happens when India fail to win the Murali-Kumble series (as it has been aptly named)?  Will India invite other upcoming Asian teams to play them in England?

Where will this stop? Bangladesh in South Africa? Afghanistan in Australia?

It is also being learnt that one Ashes’ Test match will be shifted to India. In all probability, it will be a Day Night Test played at two different venues. After two days, there will be a rest day when the teams will move to a second venue. A BCCI spokesperson offered an explanation: “In these times of IPL, we need Test cricket to adapt and be played in different locations…one Test, two venues is a start, hopefully, one day, we will have a Test match that is played in five different venues…from Mumbai to Madras sorry Chennai, from Delhi to Calcutta…sorry Kolkata to Kanpur…to Varanasi”. When informed that that was six venues, he laughed, “The more the merrier, we have to keep these cricketers on their feet!”

(However plausible this may sound, this is largely a work of fiction) 

First published here

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Kohlikar - when Virat pulled off a Sachin

Yet, Kohli is unlike Tendulkar in far too many ways. It takes a special player to be so universally disliked. if you’re English or Australian loathing the very ground that Kohli scores on comes easy. Kohli isn’t meant to be likeable. Not at least for adversary nations. By now, he’s comfortable being in that creepy, unlikable skin of his. That itself sorts a lot of issues – at least for him.

Every now and then he sheds some of this creepy skin, and becomes a poised, likeable guy behind the mic. Then the mic drops. And the penny. And he’s out to get his pound of flesh.

To needle is Kohli’s currency. More so when he senses, he’s in the eye of the storm. Kohli will, like a Banarsi weaver, take that needle and shove it right through the storm. Often enough, the storm is of his making. Either way, he’s always a ready accomplice.

Joe Root run-out done, celebratory kisses done, mic-drop done, England batting undone, Indian batting undone. From 50/0 dropped to 50/3; followed by 100/4, 100/5; calling it almost quits at 169/7 when Ashwin was done.

Kohli’s two lives courtesy Dawid Malan in the slips were a long time ago. Kohli likes his fast bowlers. That he trusts them deeply with the bat was a revelation. More so after Shami was done just 13 runs after Ashwin.

The last two wickets added a country mile to India’s final score. Never mind Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav made only 6 of the last 92.

When Ishant was dismissed, Kohli was three shy of his century; when India was dismissed, Kohli was one shy of 150. And India was just 13 shy of England.

What began shakily for Kohli against James Anderson, with edges and nicks not going to hand, built into a thoughtful yet dull sameness of leaving-the-ball.  Anderson continued to bowl unchanged, mostly outside off, Kohli continued to leave unhinged. Scoring was sacrificed, but a battle, crucially, both an inner one and one against Anderson was won. Anderson was England’s most economical bowler, but his main mission to prise out Kohli went unfulfilled.

It was hardly dramatic. Leaving the ball rarely is unless you’re Courtney Walsh. Through this mostly barren, long stretch against Anderson, Kohli sowed the seeds of his first century on English soil. And who’s to say, how many more that will inevitably follow. Growing hundreds, like flowers, takes patience, more so in tricky English conditions. Kohli, as do flowers, made the most of the sun that peaked through the clouds.

And then, six balls after Ishant’s wicket, after four dots, Kohli glanced one behind square to the IPA sign boundary. In a perfect world, beer would’ve served to all with Shastri picking the tab. Instead, Kohli roared, as only Kohli roars – helmet off, right glove off, locket kissed, salaams, smiles. There was a lightness to it all. Atherton called him a remarkable player on air. Kohli was by now batting on air. Introspective one-day mode had been activated. Which in Kohli’s case implied attacking shots strewn between deadpan defence and the occasional single.

In twelve overs, for the tenth wicket, India added 63 runs after Kohli’s century – eight fours and a six off the skipper’s bat, and four byes past Yadav off nobody’s bat.

It was his 22^nd Test century. What this means to him, we may never know. If we do, it most probably will come at the end of a successful tour. One that he may have to hold together largely with his bat.

In the second dig, Kohli was in at 22/2. The top order hurried away, Ashwin walking in at 63/4. 110/5 overnight, with 84 for a win. Within two runs on the fourth morning, Dinesh Karthik was gone. Kohli went pass his fifty but when Stokes got one to go past his bat, he was trapped in front; a review only delayed it. Within a minute, Kohli was dismissed twice – first by the umpire, then by the review.

If anyone thought otherwise, Kohli’s dismissal had been communicated clearly -  India’s chase was dismissed too. 31 runs shy of the target, India folded within the next 21 runs.

A day after India’s defeat, somewhat ironically, it’s announced that Virat Kohli is the world’s No. 1 Test player. An Indian on top after 2011, after Sachin Tendulkar.

That Tendulkar had many such days, as Kohli, doing all the dirty work isn’t lost on anyone. The comparisons are out there. That Tendulkar had with him the likes of Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly isn’t lost on anyone either. But such was his reputation that few grew in his shade. Each might have played masterful innings, some far scaling those played by Tendulkar, but no cricketer received a farewell anywhere close to that of Tendulkar. He was, to put it bluntly, the first amongst equals. Not by numbers alone but by his aura, his reputation, his likeability.

Kohli outscores Tendulkar - not with his likeability but how he can be vastly disliked. Kohli’s aura, reputation and numbers though are surging like some tropical storm. There is more than a hint of fear and awe that accompanies Kohli to the crease.

 It’s up to the present lot, whether they want to wither in Kohli’s shadow or grow out of it. Few will, but on the odd day that they can, they will only add to Kohli’s reputation – more as a captain. Something that Tendulkar often lacked.

If Kohli’s 200 runs in the Test can inspire both him and his batsmen to greater deeds, we will be treated to a memorable English August. Come September, and we will know who will drop the mic one last time this summer. And you can be sure, Tendulkar will be watching.

First published here

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