Indian openers - Powerful or Pathetic?
For a team to succeed in International cricket one thing is most important: a stable and successful opening pair. India almost always faced a problem finding a proper opening pair in test cricket until Sehwag and Gambhir started opening for India.
However, in the last 3 years or so even this pair is performing only in patches; still, India managed to top the ICC tests ranking and win the WC 2011, thanks to the formidable middle order performing at its best.
But post-World Cup, the middle order failed so badly that the the opening pairs flaws came into the limelight. The back-to-back whitewashes overseas against England and Australia respectively, the ODI series loss in England, the CB series and Asia Cup failures and the latest World Cup T20 ouster- all these failures have raised a serious question about the opening pair.
Let’s have a look at the pair, their strengths, weaknesses and probable reasons for failure.
Virender Sehwag
A man who needs no introduction: A fearless opener, instinctive, flamboyant, dominating and all other adjectives that can compliment an attacking batsman.
He dictates the game to the bowlers. Attack is often the most used form of his defence. But after suffering the shoulder injury, the Sehwag we knew went missing. His form dipped considerably; the starts which India was so used to simply stopped coming. The scoring rate that once provided ample leverage to the average Indian bowling attack, reduced considerably with Viru failing at the top. His striking ability seems to have diminished to an extent that even the loose balls are rarely dispatched.
Sehwag, now 34, has to plan his career smartly from here on, or there could be premature curtains to an otherwise wonderful career. He has to raise his fitness levels and form by training well. Playing the shortest format of the game is not doing any good to his career and giving up T20 could help him gain both his fitness and form. Sehwag should work on prolonging his Test career.
GG played on..such a familiar sight!
One of the most hardworking batsmen and a prolific run-scorer for India in all formats since the last four years or so; he was in India’s success in international cricket. Technically a very sound batsman and hardworking too, I feel his dip in form is more of a mental issue than technical. The way he is getting out these days can give you a clear idea of that. A word of advice from a coach or a senior player can do wonders for him. He just needs to find some motivation to play his game. A word of support from his captain will add to his confidence and help him come back strongly as he is still the best bet for the opening spot considering his age and fitness. All he needs to do is sit down with the coach, watch his dismissals, work on rectification of the mistakes and execution of all the homework and we can see the old, reliable, Gambhir back.
Should Sehwag and Gambhir fail in their pursuit, India have a decent number of talented openers in the likes of Rahane, Vijay, Dhawan or even Uthappa for the shorter version.
Rahane’s technique, temperament and consistency at the domestic level, the limited chances at the international level and also the in the IPL, makes him the front runner in the list of probable replacements for the opening spot. Should BCCI decide to work on this issue, India have a formidable future ahead.