Hyderabad: Reserve players of India were key to Team India's recent Test series win against Australia. Behind the success of young players, hard work of two former India cricketers cannot be ruled out. Today because of them, world cricket is appreciating the young Indian team's magnificent victory in the backyard of the mighty Aussies.
Both of them have reposed highest confidence on young players, who ensured India attain the highest position in the realm of World Test Championship in 2021. Young players also didn't disappoint them as they had scripted history on the soil of Australia.
Chosen best team for tour Down Under
Unlike past, this time selectors led by former spinner Sunil Joshi, then chairman of BCCI selection committee, had chosen a strong squad, which had a blend of experienced and young players.
In the past, selectors have not bothered much about selecting reserve players until there was any special need arises. Even who made to the squad had spent the full tour companying the Indian players supplying drinks, gloves, pad and bat. However this time, in the face of COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions, BCCI had sent a team to Australia comprising regulars, rookies and net bowlers.
With half a dozen senior players had to be benched due to injuries at different stages of the series, Indian management had turned to young guns and net bowlers to complete the XI. But surprisingly India's reserve bench came too hard on Australia that the world's best bowling attack of the time failed to get better of them.
Indian bowlers, with very little experience, under the gaze of Bharat Arun aptly slipped into the shoes of senior bowlers and picked 20 wickets at Brisbane. Each young player coming as a replacement has played their role very well and overpowered the Aussies at their fortress, where they had been invincible for 32 years.
Joshi's wise team selection
Then Team India chief selector, Sunil Joshi, had wisely picked a team which had the best players of contemporary Indian cricket. As a great reader of the game, he understood the need of the team during the just concluded two-month long tour to Australia.
He picked a team which had veteran players in all departments. But keeping rustiness of players in mind amid pandemic induced cricket, he also emphasised on picking youngsters.
When situations arose, these young players have not disappointed Joshi. They have done a remarkable job, winning Test series, India's second Down Under in two successive tours.
Challenges for selectors
It was not an easy job to pick the players for fast and bouncy Australia conditions. Keeping that in mind, Joshi has selected 18 member squad for the tour. After carefully studying the playing style of each player, he had selected the team. After the historic win against Australia, all are appreciating the players and coach Ravi Shastri, but Joshi's contribution should not go forgotten.
Dravid's boys
Young Indian team chasing down a mammoth 328 to win their maiden Test in Brisbane also underlined legend Rahul Dravid's contribution to the Indian cricket.
All of these young players, who played against Australia in the just-concluded Test series, was groomed and nurtured by Rahul Dravid at different stages of their career. Dravid was the head coach of the India U-19 team in 2016 and 2018 youth World Cup and assisted Paras Mhambrey in 2020 U-19 World Cup in South Africa.
Yong players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navadeep Saini, Mohammed Shiraj and Mayank Agarwal have got to learn from Dravid when they were in the U-19 team, India A and later at the National Cricket Academy, which is now headed by Dravid.
Dravid shapes Rahane, Pujara
Ajinkya Rahane was the best student of Dravid. The Pune cricketer has learned a lot from Dravid, including his style of captaincy. When he was in poor form, Rahane has taken suggestions from Dravid. He has adjusted his batting skills in pursuit of getting more runs. While he scored a hundred in Melbourne to help India level the series, Rahane also guided his teammates as a skipper to perform in the Sydney and Brisbane Test.
Rahane, on many occasions, recalled how Dravid helped him improving his batting technique.
Cheteshwar Pujara is another vital cog of this Australia series-winning Indian team. He largely adopted the batting style of Dravid. He stood like a wall in the final Test and helped young players like Gill and Pant to build Indian innings around him. Nevertheless, Pujara got ample chances to interact with Dravid when he was at the NCA during his rehab post-injury.
In 2020-21, a young Indian side retaining Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia shows how Indian cricket has transformed under Dravid's mentorship. Now, following this win, India rose to the top of World Test Championship to give a boost to their chance of winning the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Dravid's behind the scene works in grooming young players made selectors' job much easier. It will not be wrong to say that India won the Test series against a full-strength Australian team because of Dravid's recurring work with the young heroes of the country at different times.
Today because of Dravid's hard work India got a strong reserve bench comprising players who can fill the shoes of senior players anytime at alien conditions.
-- By Ravi. S
