India’s South African success

Two matches into the 6-match ODI series, and after completing a highly competitive Test Match series, India seems to be living up to its resolve that this time around they are going to stay toe-to-toe and slug it out on foreign soil. They lost a very close Test series 2-1. In the ODIs, they are up 2-0, backing up the constant refrain that we hear from the Indian cricket management that the Indian team, playing abroad, will be far stronger this time around.

Up to now, their reputation as tourists has been tenuous at best. The last five years has been better than the last 10. Under Dhoni their record of victories abroad read just six, against 13 losses including 0-4 against England and Australia. Recently, under Virat Kohli, India has won eight Tests on foreign soil. Some of this may be the luck of the draw (pun intended). When Dhoni captained India, teams like Sri Lanka and the West Indies were a lot stronger than they are now. Nevertheless, Kohli’s Indian team seems to be far more aggressive in its approach to the game than Dhoni’s was.

Cricket enthusiasts, and not just from India, were buzzing in anticipation of India’s tour of South Africa. India happens to be the No. 1 team in the world in Test Cricket, South Africa, 2. In ODIs, South Africa is No. 1, and India, 2. So you can appreciate why this series of cricket matches in all three formats (the last one being T-20). India had played the last 13 Tests at home where they are almost unbeatable. Those who question India’s No. 1 status were even more interested in seeing their performance in South Africa. There was one more caveat: the Indian team, historically, has been notoriously susceptible to quality fast bowling. And Proteas have some of the world’s most lethal pacers. Finally, they were humiliated losing 0-3 in India recently, succumbing to wily spin bowling.  

Cricket pundits were sitting up on their ring-side seats to watch this battle.

Well, it’s true, Kohli’s men lost the Test series, 2-1; but all three Tests were keenly, and evenly, fought. In the first Test India came oh-so-close to winning, but they collapsed for 135 in the fourth inning when the pitch was “a mine field” for batsmen. In the second Test, too, the home team was ahead by only 28 runs in the first inning. The second inning, however, was no contest. India lost by 135 runs. But it was in the third Test, amidst sharp criticism by the press and nay-sayers, with the series gone, that the Indian team came back and snatched victory by 63 runs. So, the series ended the same way as with the past Indian teams – by losing. After all the posturing by Ravi Shastri, the coach, the result was  no different from that of the past Indian teams.

Or is it so?

I beg to differ. There were three notable differences that separate this team than the ones in the past. This team is far superior in ground fielding, running and catching than anything I have seen in recent years. Players are far more physically fit than their previous counterparts. Secondly, cricket lovers everywhere are sitting up and noticing India’s battery of five fast bowlers, a first. Yes, there have been the Zaheer Khans, Sreenaths and the Sreesanths, but four fast bowlers in the team, relentlessly attacking – the Proteas were not totally prepared for it. Their captain said after the last Test that “these fast bowlers are very, very good.” And finally, the third big difference is the captain himself, Virat Kohli.

Kohli’s energy, aggression, skill as a fielder, batsman and captain, were definitely factors in shaping this Indian team. For instance, in the three Tests, over six innings, there was only one century: Kohli’s 153 in Cape Town. (He followed it up with another unbeaten century in the first ODI which India won.) He is leading the team with verve, excellent planning and execution. He plays only to win. While Dhoni used to talk about process, Kohli emphasizes results. For him, the only result is victory. Losing is very tough for him. He can be magnanimous as he did after the loss to Pakistan in the Champion’s Trophy final; he can keep up a brave face after a shocking loss to Australia in Bengaluru. But here in South Africa, he was angry after losing the first two Tests. Some would say, he was angry at the reporters. True, but I would attribute his anger to losing. “There is a sort of madness,” he said, “that drives you to win even in the most adverse conditions. We need that madness.”

With people like Kohli at the helm, Indian cricket is rising. Far away in New Zealand, almost on the other side of the world, Indian cricketers under 19 brought home the World Cup last week. The Indian women’s team beat both Australia and England (two former champions) in the ICC Trophy last summer. They lost in the final against England, the eventual champions. Kohli is not directly responsible for all of this success. But he has probably inspired Indian cricket in general for it to climb these heights.