IPL experience will boost India’s chances in England
been replaced by those who idolise the likes of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Indian cricket is now at a point where there is serious competition for places in all the national teams and it’s a matter of perform or perish. Gone are the days when a player — selected to play in a Test against Australian tearaway Jeff Thomson — exclaimed; “Why me?”
HOTBED OF TALENT
Or the times when rather than wanting to compete at the highest level, the ambition of some young Indian tourists went no further than attaining a cap and blazer to proudly display to their friends back home. India is now the envy of the cricket world when it comes to producing skilful young batsmen. It’s going to be an interesting clash when India meet England. While the tourists are spoilt for batting choices the hosts are stumbling from one toporder collapse to another.
There was a time when an Indian tour would’ve been warmly greeted by England batsmen as an opportunity to find form. With India now producing not only bowlers of pace but those who are also seam savvy, they’ll relish the opportunity to cause further disarray among England’s top order.
This highly anticipated clash will also be one of diverging cricketing cultures. While India is riding high on the back of IPL riches and success, England is trying to forge a path like a blind man wielding a white stick. The next addition to an England summer schedule that already resembles a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey is a 100-ball competition that has the backing of few outside an administrative clique.
While there appears to be great uncertainty among players surrounding this competition, there can be no doubt that the scattergun approach to England’s domestic cricket schedule is having an unsettling effect on the country’s batting prospects.
MASTERFUL KOHLI
The fragile England batting will be tested by Kohli’s captaincy, which features a strong desire to seek victory from the outset. Kohli is also challenging his players to produce their best in tight situations. That the Indian players are now constantly facing dramatic close finishes in front of big crowds at IPL has helped to hasten this learning process in the international arena. India can be thankful to IPL and the positive influence it’s had on the national team. This successful venture could be about to pay bigger dividends in the UK.