Rich pool of talent ain’t enough

India’s Shubman Gill walks off after being caught by West Indies’s Shai Hope off Romario Shepherd for 77 in the fourth T20 International at Central Broward Regional Park in Florida on August 12. Pic/AP/PTI

The inconsistency of the Indian cricket team in the last couple of years can be attributed to a combination of factors. One that sticks out is the team's style of play.

It appears the outfit lack the ruthlessness and aggression which earlier Indian teams had. At the heart of these two qualities was effective leadership.

The big guns will return and no doubt India will put their right foot forward in their quest to their second ODI World Cup on home soil, with a full side. But being ruthless is a good habit and that should be interval-less. I didn't find too much of aggression flowing thick and fast during the limited overs series in the West Indies although the young players provided more than just a glimpse of what they can do.

Having enormous talent is good, but creating easy access to the growing pool of talented individuals in the playing XI is vital.

I come back to ruthlessness. The history of the Ranji Trophy shows that despite being big on talent, many teams have not won the trophy consistently. When they did win - Mumbai did most of the time in the 1960s and 1970s - it was a result of playing ruthlessly and showing no mercy to opponents on the field. The Mumbai team, which won the maximum number of times with their ‘khadoos' attitude, also failed to win when their approach lacked aggression and ruthlessness.

To complete that circle of being good sides, the victorious players were humble and modest off the field unlike today when some resort to foul language on and off the field. Such behaviour is rightly condemned by all who love the game.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the West Indies cricket team, captained by Clive Lloyd and later Vivian Richards, dominated world cricket. Under Lloyd's captaincy, the West Indies team won the first two ICC Cricket World Cups in 1975 and 1979. However, they were stopped by Kapil's Devils, who played aggressively, and were led fearlessly to humble the West Indies in 1983, depriving them of a hat-trick of World Cup wins. The West Indians' aggressive style of play was backed by powerful batting, express pace bowling and exceptional fielding, making them formidable opponents for any team.

The West Indies' approach on the field was often perceived as ruthless, and relentless in their pursuit of victory. Their fast bowlers, like Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall intimidated batsmen with their pace and aggression. The team's fierce competitiveness and physical presence made them a tough side to face and their era left a lasting impact on the sport, with many of the players from that time deservedly considered legends.

In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, the Australian cricket team, under Allan Border and later Mark Taylor, followed by Steve Waugh, played aggressive and ruthless cricket, dominating the world of cricket. Border, known for instilling a never-say-die attitude in the team, led them through a significant transformation, becoming a competitive force in international cricket. Waugh, a determined and mentally tough cricketer, further strengthened the team's resolve, leading them to new heights of success.

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The Australians' aggressive brand of cricket led to multiple Test series and ODI victories which included an incredible three consecutive ICC World Cup titles in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

In recent years, England have achieved remarkable success in all formats of the game, particularly Test cricket. Under the captaincy of Joe Root and the guidance of coach Chris Silverwood, England developed a formidable Test side with a balanced combination of experienced players and promising talents. Their batting line-up led by players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler has consistently delivered strong performances, while the bowling attack, featuring skilled pacers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, along with spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali, have served England well.

Present coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes are on the same page when it comes to an aggressive style of cricket. As a result, England have displayed great resilience and mental toughness, bouncing back from challenging situations to secure notable victories.

For an Indian perspective, look how Sourav Ganguly played a crucial role in instilling a competitive and fearless mindset during his tenure. He encouraged players to express themselves and nurtured young talent, laying the foundation for India's success in international cricket. MS Dhoni carried forward the team's aggressive and competitive approach. Dhoni was known for his calm demeanour and astute decision-making on the field. Under his captaincy, India achieved several significant highs - World T20 in 2007, ODI World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

Virat Kohli also continued the team's aggressive and result-driven approach. He emphasised a strong team culture and demanded excellence from his players during his tenure.

It is imperative that the team management, coaches and players work together to address areas of concern and make improvements ahead of major tournaments. All teams go through phases of highs and lows. It's part of sports dynamics.

As cricket fans, we can hope that the team learn from their experience and compete to potential in upcoming tournaments. While maintaining a competitive edge is crucial, I endorse that one must appreciate the team during successful as well as challenging times.

Team India need not hold back their ammo. They have it, so use it.

Balvinder Singh Sandhu, a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, is also an accomplished coach, who has served state teams as well as the National Cricket Academy.
Mayank Shekhar's MS Word will be back next week.
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