“We are overall satisfied with our performance on the field, and I believe the team will take the positives out of it to negate the shortcomings..” This has been the verbatim of all the Captains till date. It is absolutely fine to lose matches. Cricket is just a game, after all, but not for India. Much like the Nation’s economy, which is under construction, “developing Nation”, the National team is also improving forever and ever. There is absolutely no necessity to compare the teams of the past as we are not competing against Dhoni’s record or Ganguly’s record. Invariably I should borrow MSD’s words here, “when you die, you die. You do not think which is the better way to die.” The margins are just for the data. The wins and losses matter the most.

Virat Kohli has been competing against the entire world to be the best batsman, best fielder, and the fittest athlete going around. With his astonishing ever growing numbers in all formats, the second person chasing him actually is not even seeing where VK is, that’s how far Virat has gone. But the point is, Virat has been given the free run to lead the team too. Teams fear him, but none respect him. There is a logic to bowling. A bowler can only bowl to the stance of a batsman. Upon seeing how the batsman is shaping himself for every ball and what’s the bat lift, the bowler would eventually decide where to pitch when he starts. This is one of the reasons why top bowlers struggle to clean the tail. The tail-enders usually bats in a bizarre manner without any formulas. Given VK is trying to bounce all the time, the intensity he brings to the game is enormous. Teams across the world is planning for his downfall all the time. Since he has not commanded respect, which is pretty much a deal for leaders, the bubble will be poked somehow.

As a Captain, VK should have understood the pattern of India’s bowling in Test matches. It is always the 4/4.5 bowlers who have clinched the famous wins. With 7 batsmen, India usually gives away 2-3 gifts to opponents, and that is why the 5 bowlers policy never worked. Ishanth, Shami, and Bumrah have been rocking all year, and bringing a 4th seamer into the mix is pure stupidity. You either under-bowl him or he’d never hit the form because he wasn’t doing that role at all. To accommodate Pandya, if India goes on to Drop Vihari means, it will be an unpardonable crime. Chopping and changing the top 3 by making Pujara to open might be a solution. But one good ball at the top will break the whole unit.

SENA countries have been volatile against Spin and they’d remain for eternity. If seam and swing are their weapons, use the weapon that we have been devising for decades. Giving away excuses and making the coach to roar at the press is not going to solve the problem.

Oh Virat, you have risen above your countrymen and the world who play the same game. Unfortunately, Cricket is a team game, and as a leader, you are expected to win games and not mess it up. It is about time, you bring the glory for the team too.