India’s Success in Bilateral Series Vs Big Tournaments
India’s exit from another world event – T20 World Cup 2021 has triggered the talks about its streak of failures in the marquee tournaments of ICC.
Looking at India’s recent success in bilateral series in white ball cricket, the men blue were strong favorites to win the T20 world cup in UAE.
Under the leadership of Kohli, India won 12 bilateral series out of 17 (white-ball cricket), lost two and drew 3. These numbers are truly accolading. Bilateral series wins make Kohli 50% successful captain of the Team India in his captaincy stint since he took the charge in January 2017. Here, the remaining 50% that Kohli is not able to achieve is winning an ICC trophy in ODIs or T20s. If Kohli is compared to Dhoni, Dhoni had won all three ICC trophies (2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy) in his first 6 years of captaincy. Dhoni had captained the team India in 10 ICC tournaments and won 3 of them.
The statistics definitely makes Dhoni a successful captain of India only because his hands are full of ICC trophies. The question comes why Dhoni and why not Kohli or why not any other captain before Dhoni. In Pre-Dhoni era, India won an ODI World Cup and became a joint winner of an ICC Champions trophy. In 80s, India was able to snatch the trophy from West Indies in 1983. In 90s and most of 2000s, Australia was by far the most dominating side in the world cricket. India made an attempt in 2003 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly took serious efforts to build the team and gave the confidence to the team to win the matches but only the thing that was lacking is to cross the hurdle of finals in big tournaments (exception was the NatWest Trophy where India beat England in final).
In Dhoni era, Dhoni provided a different style of captaining – cool, calm, and composed which actually produced memorable wins for India in knockout games of big tournaments, tri-angular series, and Asia Cup. Though it is expected by Indian fans to win every trophy, it is practically impossible, but Dhoni is able to win all three ICC trophies in white ball cricket. Captaining the side in bilateral series and in big tournaments are definitely different things. The big tournaments require the captains to absorb the pressure, tackle every opponent differently, make right selections, implement the strategy, and more importantly give the players confidence throughout the tournament. Dhoni clearly ticked all these boxes and was successful to win big tournaments.
In Post Dhoni era, Kohli could not achieve the success because of his aggressive style of captaining, team selections, and to certain extent lots of changing and chopping. All of these cannot build the intent among the players and one loss in first game resulted in second loss in much win game to qualify for semi finals. In 2016 T20 world cup, India lost against New Zealand but bounced back and progressed to semi finals. In terms of pool of players, Kohli got all prepared team when he took charge of the team from Dhoni. In 2017, Campions Trophy final, Indian team was battling with the coach. In 2019, team selections were questioned along with batting order. In 2021 Test Championship and T20 world cup, again the team selections and players’ confidence on the field were questionable. Don’t all of these in the end question the leadership of Kohli? A person with right leadership skills with lack of batting form can win the trophies for his team. Dhoni and Morgan showed in the IPL. Kane Williamson is another perfect example of leadership. He won first ever ICC Test Championship for New Zealand. His style of captainship resembles Dhoni’s style of leading the team. Another point to consider is camaraderie between coach and captain. Dhoni-Kirsten and Dhoni-Fleming are so far greatest examples of winning trophies for their respective teams. If BCCI would have let Dhoni captain the side until this T20 world cup (like the CSK is trusting his leadership and to large extent ignoring his personal performance with bat ), India could have won at least one more ICC trophy. Dhoni anyways have been captaining in IPL and won trophies in 2018 and 2021. This proves that if captain knows how to win trophies, then his individual form is not a concern. Since Dhoni announced his retirement, India did not play much white ball cricket as well. Dhoni would definitely be able to captain the side in white ball cricket until this T20 world cup.
The time has come to find a Dhoni-like captain which I think Rohit in white ball cricket considering his IPL success and Asia Cup win. In test cricket, Rahane is a better choice if India wants to win next Test Championship. Rahane has shown the leadership skills in series win over Australia in absence of Kohli. Rahane kept his cool without showing any aggression and still he was able to draw the performances from available players on the tour. He made the right selections from available pack of players and led the team from front. It is worth noting that Kohli won against comparatively weak Australian team and Rahane led weak India (absence of Kohli and key players from bowling department) to tremendous series win against full strength Aussies on their home turf. It does not undermine the Kohli’s leadership but definitely makes Rahane better captain and proves Rahane’s mettle to handle a comparatively weak team and provide the much-required confidence to players. Rahane’s style of captaining the side has the potential to win the next ICC Test Championship. BCCI and selectors should understand that leadership is the prime factor in winning big tournaments. If leader is capable then he can achieve the feats with same group of players. “Bilateral series is a like a battle and big tournament is a war. If Indian team wants to win the war, it can afford to lose battles in expense of a leadership change, team combinations, and of course, replacement of a head coach”.
Dravid-Rohit and Dravid-Rahane pair can be the solution to end India’s drought of ICC trophies.
Written By Pankaj Lembhe.
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November 22, 2021