The most heartening aspects of this home season

[Ultimate_Game]

There are two main items which deserve to be highlighted and celebrated from what we've seen this extended home season...

 

1. Nearly every player pulled his weight and made significant contributions. Right from the openers in Rahul and Vijay (though Vijay was a bit too inconsistent but still managed 3 hundreds) to middle order in Pujara, Kohli and Rahane (though Rahane needs to be a bit more impactful at home) to wkt keeper in Saha to spin all-rounders in Ashwin & Jadeja to pacers in Umesh, Shami, Bhuvi and Ishant (most disappointing of all but still kept runs in check). Except for Nair, who's a newcomer and probably needs to be replaced by Iyer or Jadhav, every Indian player made a significant match turning contribution. No player is indispensable and every player can be covered for. Have never seen such all-round depth and consistency in an Indian Test team which augurs well for the future.

 

2. The team under kohli shows up when it's put under the pump. Before Kohli took over India had just 2 series wins when they lost the 1st Test in the series. India were traditionally poor in fighting back in Tests but under Kohli they have won 2 series in the span of a couple of years after losing the 1st Test - once in SL and now against Aussies at home. It's not about the series but this home season whenever Indian team were put under pressure they responded quite well. Against England they faced a deficit of 400+ runs after the 1st innings but still went on to win the match. Against Aussies they came from behind in the 2nd Test at B'lore to win the match, turned a losing position into a winning position at Kochi in the 3rd Test and in the 3rd Test were facing a series loss when Aussies were 150/1 in 1st winnings but didn't give up and fought back to win the match and the series. Every time the team was put under the pump, it responded and fought back. Let's hope this fighting quality shows up in away tours as well but it's a good sign for Indian cricket.

Edited March 29, 2017 by Ultimate_Game

[goose]

Umesh Yadav

[Vilander]

Umesh Yadavs utter ownership of Sakib and Warner, Hancomb.

 

Dharmshala day 4 was amazing bowling by Umesh knock head knock head stare down outside edge. epic.

Edited March 31, 2017 by Vilander

[rtmohanlal]

the emeregence of Ravindra Jadeja as a much more useful all rounder . He has made a total of 7 50s of which 6 are  in this season alone. For some one who averages around 44 with the bat in first class cricket & having some 3 300+ scores, i have always wondered as to why he was not being even half as successful in tests. 3 300+ scores... that means loads of temperament. Still not a single 100 in test cricket. He should be promoted atleast one place  in batting line up so that he can convert his lots of not out scores into bigger ones. More over he is a left hander so that  it will bring more balance to batting line up.

[kira]

We have the greatest allrounder in the world 

 

We have the greatest spinner in the world

 

We have the best batting lineup in the world ( an idiot thought australia has a great batting line up )

 

We have the best fast bowler in asia

 

We also have the second best fast bowler in asia 

 

We have the best wicketkeeper in asia

 

No wonder we are the reigning defending undisputed No. 1 Test team in the world 

[CoverDrive]

yup some really good point there. Our openers and top order in general showed better technique against fast bowling than aussies bar Smith

[Vilander]

its actually pretty good the current state. Lateral movement has been the problem always for India, we had played bounce and pace well with Sachin/Dravid already. Want to see this team recreate what the fab 5 team did in swinging conditions for a very brief period.

[Ultimate_Game]

2 hours ago, Vilander said:

its actually pretty good the current state. Lateral movement has been the problem always for India, we had played bounce and pace well with Sachin/Dravid already. Want to see this team recreate what the fab 5 team did in swinging conditions for a very brief period.

That's the litmus test. The heartening thing is that the current team's depth is much better than the early 2000s one. We had likes of tendulkar, Dravid and Sehwag but we didn't have all 11 players who pulled their weight or adequate replacements. The current squad does. As long as the team improves its close catching, especially the slip catching, we should be able to compete anywhere.

[maniac]

1.Umesh Yadav has to be at the top of the list.

 

I just hope...he isn't overworked in IPL and yes there will be the odd game where he will be taken to the cleaners,hope he is strong enough to not lose it and maintain all this momentum he gained when he is back in the international scene.

 

2.Also Jadeja-from a supporting act to the main role...great stuff. Also his batting has gotten better.

 

3.Saha-MSD Who? Saha is one of the best keepers we have ever had and already the 2nd best keeper bat.