The script could not have been
written any better. That India’s grueling Test season will end in laps of
Himalayas.13 Tests in a season can be demanding at many levels – physically and
emotionally. The Indian players have done well to maintain the physical level.
Except for odd injury here and there, there had not been a serious case barring
Mohammed Shami who has so far missed half of the games. At mental level, it
doesn’t look like the energy has gone down either, with Pune being an
aberration.
However, several new facts have
been unraveled. England was considered the most threatening opposition and
Australia the weakest. The opposite of that has happened. England looked
lethargic and Australia exhibited proactiveness, which is one the major reasons
that they will enter the last Test with high chances of winning the series in
India for first time since 2004.
Unlike England who were dependent
on bits and pieces players, Australia have deployed specialists with only
number 6 being a multifaceted player.
The tall opening batsman Matt
Renshaw has shown exemplary mental strength. For a 20-year-old playing in India
for the first time this is quite a success story. In Pune, he played inside the
line of ball to counter vicious turn. In Bangalore he used his reach to avoid
the lbw. In Ranchi he took middle stump guard to tackle the rough. The
underlying point is how he has aborted the sweep shot which he practiced in
lead up to the series. The sweep shot was never on due to unpredictable bounce.
He has exhibited a lot of caution where his more experienced partner, David
Warner has failed miserably.
Steven Smith has deciphered the
rationale behind him being ranked number one. As Renshaw mentioned he has shown
path to his team. Shaun Marsh has done no harm to his “best Australian player
of spin bowling” tag. With Peter Handscomb he earned a draw for Australia when
defeat looked inevitable. Glenn Maxwell too let go of his ego to score a maiden
test ton. Mathew Wade has not been overly poor behind the stumps, something
that had been a worry before the series.
Throughout the series, the
Australia bowling has looked penetrating. England relied on line and length
bowlers while Australia have gone in for extra pace. Pat Cummins has filled the
big shoes of the injured Mitchell Starc. By bowling off-stump channel Josh
Hazlewood is doing what was expected out of him. The biggest positive for
Australia, however, is Steve O’Keefe. In Pune his 12/60 routed India. In an era
of T20 cricket, SOK skipped Big Bash to prepare for India tour. It is boring
fruits of consistency for Australia.
***
For Australia, all this have
been possible because they have kept Kohli and Ashwin quiet. On their day both
players can single-handedly win matches for India. To Kohli, the plan has been
to bowl full and wide – to lull him to play away from body. India, however,
have shown that they are more than just Kohli and Ashwin. KL Rahul has scored
four scores of fifty or more. A hundred has eluded him, and Dharamshala might
just be the best place to end this drought of 100 – for which he is known for.
Pujara’s 92 set up the victory in Bangalore. In Ranchi, his double-century
bailed India out of trouble. Saha has shown immense value as a
wicketkeeper-batsman. Though Ajinkya Rahane is yet to rediscover his midas
touch but has played an innings which could well define the series.
Above all, the highlight of the
series has been the evolution of Ravindra Jadeja. Without giving up on his
unerring accuracy, he has varied his game by adding subtle change of pace
variations. The dip and drift have become his friends, probably not as
exemplary as Ravichandran Ashwin’s guile but still good enough to deceive
opposition. Jadeja’s growth also shows the impact that Anil Kumble has made in
his very short stint with Indian team.
The fast bowlers have equally
shared the donkey’s work with spinners. Umesh Yadav has discovered his mojo. It
looks there is a plan to which he relentlessly runs into to pursue. Nothing
portrays it better than the wicket of Peter Handscomb in 1st innings at
Bangalore. After teasing Handscomb with length deliveries, Yadav bowled an
in-swinging yorker.
In Dharamsala, Kohli’s men need
to step up for one final time in the series. India’s Test season has been all
about individuals stepping up at right moment. If India can combat Australia at
Dharamsala, then they can sit back and reflect on what has been a memorable
home session.
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