A Testing Time
As we break into the new year and a time of renewed hopes, there are lots of things to look forward to, not the least of them being the wish that our cricketers carry their winning form into the third test a few days away.
The humiliating loss in Adelaide generated a feeling of despondency. Fans started moving around bent low and with masks covering their entire faces. For many, the Test series was finished. Khel khatam. Discussions were taking place in hushed whispers about the timing of Kohli's return to India. A small bunch of Australians, here in Bengaluru probably on some software assignment, were spotted treading warily on soft-soled sneakers, not wanting to ruffle the feathers of their Indian colleagues who were sulking over the Adelaide loss and waiting for the slightest opportunity to give back. Their usual bellowed greetings of "Howdy, mite" were muted and some even changed it to "Namaste, yaar".
Then the Boxing Day Test happened. The low despair resulting from that first Test was wiped out in four days of inspired cricket. The tables were turned. India had bounced back! The despondency of Adelaide was solidly countered in Melbourne, bringing in new confidence.
And there is much talk now about the leadership qualities of Ajinkya Rahane. The understanding and morale boosting fist bump he gave Jadeja after being run out by that worthy allrounder seemed to say "don't worry about getting me run out, bhai, who knows, if you hadn't done it I might have gone on and on till the end of the fifth day". The little chat with the newcomer Siraj before he brought him on to bowl appeared to convey some closely guarded secret, because the debutant tightened his shoelaces, got his chin up and went on to rattle the Aussie batsmen. There was a seasoned captain's confidence about him as he rang in intelligent bowling changes and field placements and his calm demeanour throughout conveyed to everyone watching that he knew a thing or two about knowing a thing or two. It was a welcome change from the rather energetic display of the captain on leave. But then, I don't know how many people care for calm and quiet leadership these days.
All said and done, as we all know and I guess he too has been told, he is only a "stand-in" captain. Not a "dupe" like the one that Kohli might use while shooting for one of his ad films, but a kind of a two-eye-see holding things in place and keeping the engine ticking over till the supremo returns. And this is just one Test. One swallow does not a gulp make or something like that. Let him settle down and operate as captain in the next two Tests before we start singing more of his praises. And we must sing softly. Or Virat may hear.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the newly appointed vice-captain Rohit Sharma and teammates Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Navdeep Saini and Prithvi Shaw have all been told to isolate themselves after they were filmed seated indoors at a Chinese restaurant in Melbourne, having their meal. I didn't know that Chinese food could do this. All kinds of rumours are floating around and a new storm seems to be brewing. Let's hope it is only a storm in a soup bowl and blows over quickly for the selectors to get into their own huddle and pick the eleven for the New Year's Test in Sydney.
Till then, it's back to the waiting room!
~ Shiva Kumar, 03 Jan 2021
