Windies win can’t heal overseas scars
and Shardul Thakur whose debut was unfortunately messed up when he broke down in his second over.
Yes, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane could have done better. Both missed out on playing a big inning, the kind that would suggest they have returned to their best form, but their respective half centuries were nonetheless reassuring.
That apart, there was plenty to savour. Kohli’s form with the bat remains bionic, Ravindra Jadeja got a maiden Test century to make his recall to Test cricket truly inspiring, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami pulled their weight.
FUTURE STARS
The stellar performances, however, came from two newbies Prthivi Shaw and Rishabh Pant, and not-so-new Umesh Yadav,who has spent more time warming the bench or carrying drinks recently than in the middle. The success of these three has ramifications in the team selections for the immediate future: for the tour of Australia of course, but also shortlisting the squad for the World Cup.
Pant and Umesh have already forced their way back into the ODI side and I venture it is only a matter of time before Shaw gets an opportunity to prove his mettle.
This has already created serious competition for places, which will only get more intense in the coming weeks, creating, what Kohli called, a ‘happy headache’for the selectors and the team management.
Amid the brouhaha over the fine result against the West Indies, however, Kohli is adviced against being lulled into complacency. Better teams have been humbled in India in the past seven-eight years, so this was not a seminal achievement.
Indeed, if he puts his team’s performances in South Africa and England as perspective, Kohli will realise the stiff challenge that waits India in Australia shortly.
This was to be the year of reckoning, when India were to break through old vulnerabilities and be a champion team in the true sense of the phrase by winning rubbers overseas too.
So far, Kohli and Co have flattered to deceive. The intent is above reproach, but ultimately, the scorebook matters. The upcoming Australia tour offers opportunity for redemption else 2018 may well go down as annus horribilis in Indian cricket.