For Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble, it seems there are too many options, as far as the Indian batting department is concerned. A Karun Nair brings up a triple hundred, Parthiv Patel is amongst runs and KL Rahul answers his critics with a big ton. The ongoing Chennai Test has been a happy hunting ground for these cricketers fighting to cement their places in the Test side.
Both Kohli and Kumble are smiling, for sure. But deep down they are anticipating the tough task ahead once the regulars like Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha recover from injury and come back into the side. It’s true, seniority and experience matter, but it would be difficult to drop a triple centurion in favour of the experienced Rahane, who has been struggling with his form. Similarly, how the team management deals with Parthiv would be worth observing.
Kohli has time and again made it amply clear that Saha is his first preference as the man behind the stumps. But unfortunately, injury ruled him out giving the Gujarat player a chance to redeem his international career and he has done enough to grab the opportunity. Not only has he excelled with the bat as an opener, Parthiv has been consistent behind the stumps as well, leaving the Indian team management spoilt for choice.
Will Kohli back Saha once he is back? Well, the Bengal wicket-keeper has impressed both with the bat and the gloves before he met with an injury. And it could be a foregone conclusion that Kohli will opt for Saha at the expense of Parthiv keeping the latter as a standby keeper and a third opener, as former Indian stumper Deep Dasgupta pointed out in his column in a Bengali daily. Keeping the current scenario in mind, it would be the best option.
But what would Kohli do with Nair after Rohit and Rahane are fit enough to don the whites once again? Look at the batting order as things stand now: M Vijay, K L Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karun Nair, Parthiv Patel (he opened in Chennai because Vijay was injured), R Ashwin and R Jadeja followed by the bowlers. Considering that Saha replaces Parthiv, what happens to Rohit and Rahane?
To reiterate, the Indian Test captain and the coach are actually spoilt for choice. It is unpleasant at times, as you are left with making difficult decisions. But looking at the larger picture ahead, the presence of a strong bench strength means, indispensability is a thing of the past. Cricket is a game of eleven individuals and with one exception or two, you cannot take your place for granted in the team. The performances of Nair, Rahul and Parthiv only increase the competition with even the seniors like Rahane and Rohit not assured of a permanent place. You want your place back, fight for it!
The coming days will give us a clear picture as to where the combination stands with the Australians set to tour India. There will be permutations and combinations, you rest assured, but the presence of solidity both in and out of the team augurs well for the future of Indian cricket, or to be specific Indian batting. The positive impact of this situation will be felt once India stars touring. Matches after matches mean the players might be prone to getting injured and it is then that the bench strength will come in handy. Yet, with such a stiff competition, there will be added pressure on the players to take their fitness seriously. You are out of one match, and there are quite a few waiting to take your place.
And if we look at the bowling department, options are plenty as well. Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ashwin, Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Jayant Yadav and so on: There is no dearth of options for Kohli and Kumble. Didn’t we say they are spoilt for choice?