Team India lacking team spirit
Roar Guru 
india vs australia cricket. AAP Images
Related coverage
India has consistently been a powerhouse in cricket in all formats of the game for several decades now.
The cricket-crazy public of the nation, who reflect more from the heart rather than from the mind, are a hard bunch to please since a loss is unacceptable and is deemed a catastrophe.
Being the captain of the Indian team is probably even more demanding than the job of a Prime Minister since every decision he makes comes under close introspection from the clued-up public who, if given an opportunity, would have made a mad dash to occupy the seat to become a selector!
Cricket has a soothing influence on the nation with scores of people either calling in sick at work or taking the day off or even shutting shop in time to catch every bit of action right from the first ball.
Moreover, people are in good spirits and this is probably the only time when the nation comes together as one.
However, Indian cricket has garnered a reputation of being heavily inclined towards individual success rather than accomplishments of the team as a unit.
India has never been able to establish the team ethics or work rates of say, Australia, in the late nineties to mid noughties, or South Africa (keeping aside their perennial ‘choker’ tag).
One recent illustration was the merriment surrounding the great Sachin Tendulkar’s personal milestone of hundred 100s notched up in the Asia Cup competition in 2012. Yes, Tendulkar deserved every ounce of adulation imaginable, this being a record that may never be cracked.
More importantly, this momentous occasion gave the nation a reason to celebrate with the team’s exit from the competition happily overlooked since all that mattered was Tendulkar achieving the outstanding milestone.
You can ask any Indian cricket fanatic about watching cricket in the nineties when it was all about one man – Tendulkar. When he made a big score, the nation would celebrate but if he failed, half the country would mourn, turn the TV sets and radios off and get on with life anticipating a loss.
Every game, every result hinged on the performances of the little master and not just the nation but rival teams were aware of this conspiracy as well – get Tendulkar out early and relax, victory is ours!
One needn’t delve into record books to discover how many competitions India has won on the basis of a genuine team effort.
For the sake of argument, I would list the World Cup wins in 1983 and 2011 as two of the most memorable periods when India combined well as a team. Of course, there were victories to boot in ODIs and Tests (on home soil and the sub-continent) over the years but always short-lived.
Having said that, with the emergence of youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, to name a few, in the last decade, Indian cricket has moved on from personal landmarks to a certain extent, at least in ODIs.
If you look at India’s famous wins in Tests, there’s always just a couple of stand-out innings around which each of these victories were achieved. A few examples from the last decade would have to be:
VVS Laxman (281*) and Rahul Dravid (180) vs. Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, 2001
Rahul Dravid (233 and 72) & VVS Laxman (148) vs. Australia at Adelaide, 2003
Rahul Dravid (270) vs. Pakistan at Rawalpindi, 2004
As you can see, again, it took a few magnificent individual performances from VVS and Dravid to record these famous victories. Moreover, with their retirements, the team is expected to struggle in this most challenging format at least when playing overseas.
India might have great talent and potential in cricket but with the exploits and heroics of the legends, they might never be considered one of the greatest ‘teams’ to have graced the sport.
What do you reckon?
The Ashes journey begins
The Australian cricket team have left Australia to begin their tour of England, with a mission to reclaim the Ashes.
Australian captain Michael Clarke and his teammates were optimistic about their chances before jetting off.
Click here to hear the thoughts of our Australian cricket team as they left for England.
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
The Crowd Says (9) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Cricket, India, Test cricket
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:59am
k77sujith said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:59am | Report comment
While the team is a huge draw wherever the go, is it all about the individuals again?
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:11am
Johnno said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:11am | Report comment
-I have a few theories.
-When modern indian sport if we focus from end of world war 2 1945-2010/12 a few reason why Indian team lacking spirit for what it’s worth.
-Hockey used to be the big sport or the only team sport India dominate.
-Then cricket come along it was 1st just a sport for middle class then winning world cup change the culture of cricket and in the 80′s 90′s everyone get acces to cricket, and great team of 90′s it was all exciting like a treat or novelty.
-Then through time world get modern and internet, and commercial money to be made, too much cricket get played and no longer special.
-As India economy now developing rapidly India and globalisation mean cricket not the only choice. Rugby and soccer are now getting big. India is making big strides in rugby as is Pakistan. And soccer too, India went to asian cup in 2011. So now cricket has competition and Indians more worldly they have seen so much cricket and no long rise a test or one day match exciting it just another game.
-And the IPL now too mean not all cricket is based around national team, IPL now big too.
-So some reasons. And to be honest i don’t think if India lose spirt for cricket it is a bad thing it mean more sports and variety shape the culture of India. It would be great if India gets strong in soccer with in 20 years and wins a soccer world cup within 50 years would be great or rugby world cup in 50 years. Or basketball too.
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:32am
k77sujith said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:32am | Report comment
Good points Johno, but if at all other sports in India get due recognition, that’d be great. Moving on, in regards to this piece, don’t you think the Ind cricket team very rarely plays as a team? The element of winning a game collectively as a team has been lacking for years now since it’s always individuals winnin games for India.
In recent times, in the CB series in Aus last summer, Virat Kohli was the lone ranger who won a few matches for the team, again a point to show that the Ind team fails to win as a ‘team’. Thanks.
August 22nd 2012 @ 3:29pm
ak said | August 22nd 2012 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Virat Kohli is the man to watch out for. And as far as personal records are concerned he will score more centuries than Sachin in ODIs. It may sound to be a bit far fetched but mark my words for a few years later that is gonna happen.
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:52pm
k77sujith said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
Hi ak, thanks for your thoughts but this isn’t about who can go on to break Sachin’s records. Do you think team India plays as a team?
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:09am
ak said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:09am | Report comment
The problem with the Indian team is that certain individuals are given a lot of chances. Also if you look at their medium pacers, then you will notice that most start of well. Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel & Ishant Sharma started off well. They had the pace too. But after about an year in international cricket they start bowling at around 80mph. The reason they give is that line and length is of more importance. But the fact is that pace bowling requires a lot of effort. Something which I feel that they don’t want to do. This was also pointed out by Wasim Akram. If players have got a fear of getting dropped then they won’t take their places for granted. And then only can they play as a team. So agree with you k77sujith. They do not play as a team but all team members are not to blame. Because certain players like Virat Kohli do give their 100%.
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:23am
k77sujith said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:23am | Report comment
Hi ak…you bring out some good points about the young bowlers. I can see that you’re a huge Kohli fan
. No offence…he’s a great talent. Thanks.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:55am
jinesh said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:55am | Report comment
well written article…. well we are a country obsessed with personal records and milestones… u must have seen the media coverage for sachin’s 50 th test hundred and the dreaded 100th 100…on both occasions we lost the match was completely forgotten…but i wud not completely agree if u say we play for records..barring the previous two horror tours if u see the prev aussie tours, the english tour in 2007 ,sa tour in 2011 where we did well it was alwys a collective team effort…but ur right we as a nation are obsessed with records and milestones..
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:29am
k77sujith said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:29am | Report comment
Jinesh…The tours you’ve mentioned (Eng in 2007 & SA in 2011) were, yes, good team efforts but I didn’t mean to say that India plays for records. I just feel they should make that a habit (combined efforts in Eng and SA) to establish consistency and success in their game. I think even the 2003 world cup was a period when they combined well as a team.
But again, to be consistent, there’s a lot more work to be done like for instance, fitness and working on their physiques, Of course, this is an entirely different issue that’s been plaguing Iind cricket for decades. Thanks bro.