Indian cricket is in doldrums as the team has not tasted any success worthwhile since winning the T-20 World Cup in early 2024. After that, the performance graph of the team is on the decline amid poor performance in all three formats of the game. Worst among them was the complete whitewash against New Zealand in the home series, which came as a rude shock to cricket-lovers of the country, as on paper, Team India was projected as a much stronger side. Besides, Kane Williams, one of the best batters in modern day cricket, had opted out of the tour due to an injury. While the young New Zealand cricketing talents didn’t allow anyone to feel the absence of their star batter, the so called superstars of Indian cricket didn’t show any intention of fighting back despite their reputation at stake.
When Team India went to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they were expected to erase the memory of the drubbing against New Zealand. They started the tour on a good note by beating the Aussies in Perth, on a pitch regarded as the fastest in the world, raising hope that they could possibly win three consecutive series in Australia, a feat that has never been achieved by any cricketing nation so far. However, to the utter dismay of fans back home, the team meekly surrendered in the remaining three tests.
Since then, a virtual free-for-all has been going on in the Indian cricketing circle. Team India’s chief coach has reportedly minced no words to blame cricketers for their lack of commitment towards the team in Australia. He has even charged a young cricketer for divulging the details of dressing room discussions to the media. On the other hand, cricketers have raised questions about the style of functioning of the head coach since assuming the charge. Ironically, the BCCI, the governing body of cricket in the country, has adopted a balancing approach in an effort to sweep the problems under the carpet. While the cricket board circulating a 10-point circular to the members of Team India to remain then in check giving credence to the allegations made by the coach, it has also denied the plea of the head coach about the inclusion of certain cricketers in the team.
However, an escapist attitude can do more harm to Indian cricket than good; the board should remove all obstacles preventing Team India to achieve success as cohesion among the cricketers and the supporting staff is the key to building a formidable team. Thus, discarding the ‘please all’ approach, it should seek advice from former cricketers to find the real causes behind the recent failures to help Team India regain its lost glory.