India shuffle slip cordon, and let it slip repeatedly
NEW DELHI: When India dropped Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews for the second time -on 98 -- in the slips, Ajinkya Rahane, who took a world record number of catches in the 2015 Galle Test against Sri Lanka, was stationed at gully.
The middle-order batsman, whose haul at Galle included six in slips, was posted away from the most crucial position for a pacer steaming in to bowl with the new ball.
Ever since Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar retired from i nternational cricket, India have been struggling to find replacements in the slips. Worse, they are not letting anyone stay there permanently, having tried Cheteshwar Pujara too before banishing him.
The constant shuffling in the cordon hasn’t helped as has been evident in the ongoing Test with hosts dropping as many as three catches there.
On Sunday, when Sri Lanka began their reply to India’s massive 536/7 declared, Mohammed Shami had opener Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind first ball.
However, Shikhar Dhawan at second slip dropped makeshift opener Dilruwan Perera soon after, allowing him to score 42, and more importantly see off the new ball.
Soon Virat Kohli moved into second slip and grassed a sitter from Mathews. The former Sri Lanka skipper was on six.
As play resumed on Day 3 with Sri Lanka on a shaky 131/3, Rahane started in the slips, only to be sent to mid-off, perhaps to take on ball shining duty.
When Mathews was on 98, Kohli promptly took the new ball after 81 overs and brought Ishant Sharma on from the pavilion end. Mathews, perhaps nervous, nicked the first delivery with the new ball.
It went to Rohit Sharma who dropped the catch and conceded a single. Mathews completed his century two balls later, tucking Ishant away to backward square leg. Ishant soon had a new sec- ond slip, this time in Kohli.
Asked to explain, bowling coach Bharat Arun said, “Dropped catches do happen; we take it in our stride and learn to move on.”
With India mostly playing abroad in 2018, starting with the tough tour of South Africa, the role of slip fielders will be crucial.
Dropping even one could make the difference between winning and losing.