In his last Test innings, in opposition to the West Indies, Sachin Tendulkar was caught at slip off Narsingh Deonarine. As he walked off for the final time, he crossed in-coming batter Virat Kohli. Kohli then cracked the primary ball he confronted to the boundary. The symbolism was inescapable. The king is lifeless, lengthy dwell the king.
When Kohli was dismissed caught at slip off Scott Boland within the Sydney Test earlier this 12 months, nobody knew it could be his last innings. He was changed by Rishabh Pant who struck the following ball for a six! The symbolism, if any, will grow to be clear solely on reflection. The line from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, indicative of the batter who stood head and shoulders above the remaining, is looking for the following claimant to choose. Will it be Pant or Shubman Gill, India’s new captain?
Transitions are arduous. They are additionally exciting, stimulating, and filled with potentialities. It is a tribute to the way in which Indian cricket has advanced that the query requested within the 1980 when Gavaskar retired, “Who, after him?” was not raised when his successors give up. There is confidence that somebody younger and prepared will come by way of the system and take over.
Double obligation
As captain and doubtlessly the lead batter of the unfolding decade, Gill has two jobs. Firstly to determine himself within the workforce. An common of 35 over 32 Tests is underwhelming for a participant of his expertise and impression each mathematically and visually. Simultaneously he has to maintain India on the high of the desk and make them the following last of the World Test Championship. Gill’s common exterior India is below 30, his solely away century coming in Bangladesh.
The Hindu editorial: On India’s new Test Captain
All choice committees must take calls on religion. In Gill’s case, whereas his present report doesn’t do him justice, the prayer is that he’ll, like his predecessors Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma blossom as each batter and captain.
His dealing with of the Gujarat Titans within the IPL was spectacular, and maybe influenced the selectors. Pant misplaced out right here as a result of neither his type nor his captaincy of the Lucknow Super Giants has been inspiring. Out of the race for the highest job for the second, he can deal with the England sequence to regain his contact behind and in entrance of the stumps.
If Gill and Pant strike, it might be a sight for the gods. One, tall, elegant, sleek brings to his batting an artistry that elevates statistics whereas the opposite is a drive of nature, a destroyer of reputations. Gill, 25, and Pant, 27, had been seen as the way forward for Indian cricket once they began out. And now the long run is right here.
The bowling is in transition too, following the surprising retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin in Australia. His companion in crime, Ravindra Jadeja is the oldest within the workforce, whereas the following technology of quick bowlers — Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna — may have Jasprit Bumrah mentoring them. Much will depend upon how Bumrah is dealt with; already it is evident he is not going to play all 5 Tests.
Captaincy pleasures and pains
Despite groups typically travelling with a help employees bigger than the principle employees, captaincy in cricket continues to be distinctive and in contrast to in another sport. When a side wins, it is put all the way down to teamwork; losses are seen because the captain’s fault. A predecessor of Gill’s, Sourav Ganguly thought it was the second most difficult job within the nation after the Prime Minister’s. Fans have a tendency to evaluate purely by numbers. Tiger Pataudi, by widespread consent India’s most interesting captain, received solely 9 matches of the 40 he led in; but he’s revered for constructing a workforce and, as Bishan Bedi stated, instilling a way of Indianness. At a time when India had been one of many lower-ranked groups, he initiated a self-respect motion.
Kohli was capable of move on a few of his personal monumental self-belief and aggression to his teammates who, lately, have proven themselves able to giving nearly as good as they get, each cricket-wise and in any other case.
Captains stamp their groups with their very own persona; the Indian workforce, with kids ready for an extended stint, will look to Gill for route. Exciting instances.
Published – May 28, 2025 12:30 am IST
