For all these years I have been following Cricket, this is the first time India will be playing back to back tests until march and I will cherish every moment as I have through the years watching the most formidable form of Cricket. When the end of March comes, we will know whether the young Indian guns have ascended to the top of the ICC rankings and even more has Test Cricket reignited the flame in the youth of India who have long forgotten the traditional form.
The season will get tough as we go along, with Australia and England in the waiting but we cannot underestimate the threat from Black Caps. Over the last few years they have moved from strength to strength consistently punching over their weight and the attitude second to none they are sure to pose a challenge.
After the last series which clearly was men versus boys and only nature and poor drainage in the end stopped the annihilation. Indian Cricket did grow as a team and few players took the opportunity to rise to the next level. The first full home season for Kohli and Kumble partnership with Kumble to tickle down all the experience he has earned over the years would be of more importance considering the home conditions.
I will be looking closely at the growth of Virat Kohli – the Captain. He has been a champion player over the past couple of years but now is the time to grow as a Captain as a Leader in home conditions. He seems to be not weighed down by the tests he faces till now, showing the same aggression that he shows in his batting in his captaincy and selection. This is a different test with different pitches and conditions the team balance, switching bowlers, even the time of declaration will pose a challenge. Kohli has to be aware of not only the test at hand but the season as a whole and not zap all the energy in one test. It will be a challenge to adequately use the resources at hand!
Next is his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, the calm, technically correct and now among the senior crop in the team. He has beautifully carried the additional responsibility of shepherding the lower batting order. This should be and will be a season in which the cricketing world will take notice of him.
On the list of players to watch should be the man who is relishing his new role as being an All rounder in the side. The all rounder that India have been looking for since eternity and if he can repeat his heroics of the Caribbean and be consistent with the ball and steady with the bat he will be looking into greatness already!!! He has carried the expectations of batting at no.6 very well with his temperament and the attitude he can continue through the long taxing season that awaits him. He has given the team options where we can play an extra bowler or extra batsman as the need be.
There are new players on the block likes of Lokesh Rahul and Wridhimman Saha who have looked promising and should be looking at the upcoming season as a challenge to get out there and prove they have the mantle to perform in difficult conditions CONSISTENTLY!
Lot of players to look forward to, performances to admire and always a story behind the realms of the scorecard!!!!
500 Tests are lots of tests 1st one was special the next one will be special too. Lets start this journey as we embark our way to be at the helm of Test Cricket!!!!
Tulip Nandu 