India have had a good two years in Test cricket. A lot of that comes down to having a squad that offers options, and a captain who knows how to maximise his players’ threat
Alagappan Muthu30-Nov-2016India are slowly but steadily becoming like the coolest things in the world: Batman’s gadgets.The comics, cartoons, graphic novels and movies take a unanimous stand in depicting them as some of the most resourceful tools ever imagined. It may be too soon to confirm that Virat Kohli and his men could be seen in much the same way. Just as it would be improper not to give them credit for the tough Test cricket they have played since their tour of Australia in 2014-15. Four multi-match Test series played, four series won. And, now, an unassailable lead in the fifth.The way India have gone 2-0 up after three of the five matches against England bears repeating. They lost the toss, their first-choice opener, and the first hour of play in Mohali. They rallied to keep the opposition well under par – Alastair Cook wanted 400, he was stuck with 283. They were patient against high-class bowling. They showed the wherewithal to fight back from a bad situation – 156 for 5 – and finish in a position of dominance – 417. The spinners excelled. The fast bowlers made an impact. And all of this was done on a pitch which wasn’t a rank turner. India becoming capable of such performances is the result of the depth in their side.R Ashwin has found a way to make ordinary cricket balls behave like batarangs: going one way for a distance, lulling the enemy into a false sense of security and then taking him out. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been fast. They’ve been mean, bouncing batsmen out and harnessing both conventional and reverse swing. They have even stolen the show. Just like a couple of Batmobiles. And then there is Kohli himself. Larger than life. Doing unexplainable things. Always up for a fight. He is this team’s Batman. Anil Kumble, of course, is Alfred.An important factor in India’s success is how they have been capable of having and executing plans – and more pertinently, they’ve only had to go as far as plans A and B.For example, all the bowlers have tried to probe for Cook’s outside edge. The England captain has reacquainted himself with the off stump since his slump in form a few years ago, and so may not be the most forthcoming to nick off to the slips. However, by setting up a routine where Cook keeps dragging his front foot across, he has ended up vulnerable to the ball coming back in. In these cases, the bat would have to come around the pad a little bit, which creates a gap that Shami and Ashwin have both exploited in this series.Batman and Alfred: Kohli and Anil Kumble have put intelligence ahead of desperation•PTI India are trying not to be desperate for wickets. They work for them, intelligently and relentlessly. The spinners keep the runs down and the pressure up. The quicks make it a point to be as hostile as possible. All of it culminates in the batsman feeling he has nowhere to go but back to the pavilion.”It’s great to have the seamers bowl in short bursts,” Kohli said. “You know, bowl with pace, rather than long spells in the heat. Having quality spinners obviously helps the fast bowlers to stay fresh and come in for those quick spells of three-four overs and try to create opportunities. It has to be done in partnerships, and I think they are combining really well.”The batsmen, especially the lower order, have profited by the simplest of methods as well: making sure they stay at the crease.”There is no magic as such,” Ravindra Jadeja, who comes in at No. 7 or 8, said. “The simple thing is that we are focussing more. In the nets, we give ourselves more batting time. We speak to the batting coach a lot and, mentally, we are prepared to take responsibility and try to bat well in difficult situations.”That India have not been harassed into digging into their contingencies shows an increase in their skills level. They haven’t let England get on a roll since the Rajkot draw. They haven’t panicked. Jos Buttler tried to instigate some panic in the second innings in Mohali, but, sensing his aggression, India made a bowling change – Jayant Yadav – and installed a man on the wide long-on boundary – Jadeja, one of their best fielders – and piggy-backed on Buttler’s aggression towards victory.India have met many challenges over the last two years, barring, of course, the dreaded overseas tour where the pitches aid fast bowling. Good stories, though, build up to a clash with the arch enemy.While it seems imprudent to pitch a 13-Test home season, or for that matter the series wins over South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies, as fillers for the climax, it is also impossible not to. Success away from their own shores is what the fans are demanding; it is the caveat that has tagged along with every praise India have earned. This squad, though, gives Kohli plenty of options, and he has shown an ability as captain to enhance their threat. It doesn’t seem too outlandish to think that things will change come the next tour.
