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Dear BCCI, please convert a needless tour into an opportunity

Ravi Ashwin is in a different kind of strife. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Roar Guru
23rd February, 2018
22

My open letter to the BCCI.
 
Dear BCCI,

From 11th of November to 24th of December 2017, you organised a three-Test, three ODI and three T20 series between India and Sri Lanka. There were murmurs that there was a surfeit of India-Sri Lanka matches but you went ahead.

We won the Test series 1-0, our skipper Virat Kohli piled up more than 600 runs and Ravi Ashwin took 12 wickets. We were happy at yet another series win. We then saw India win the ODI series 2-1 and the T20 Series 3-0.

We were happier. 

However, a thought lingered at the back of the mind. Did this affect preparations for the important forthcoming overseas series to South Africa?

After all, South Africa, especially for Tests, is acknowledged to be one of the toughest propositions. India had never won a Test series there, and yet India was going to play the first Test of such a tough series without a single day of match practice.

India quickly lost the first two Tests and therefore the series, but then thankfully pulled one Test back with a super win. We were relieved since a 1-2 loss is better than a 0-3 loss.

India then won the ODI series 5- 1 and we were even happier. The Test series quickly became a distant memory for some. However, the long tour was not over.

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A three-match India South Africa T20 series would have to be played and would be followed by some much-needed rest before the IPL would start in April, followed by the all-important tour to England. Or so it was thought.

But instead of the rest and recuperation, in March India is going to play the 2018 Nidahas Cricket Tournament which is organised to celebrate Sri Lanka’s 70th year of independence.

It will be a three Nation T20 series between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Both teams will play each other twice with the top two teams progressing to the final. 

The query obviously arises as to whether this series is important from the point of view of Test cricket, from the players’ point of view and from the fans’ point of view. From the Test cricket point of view, India does have some players who play all the formats of the game and most of them would be playing the IPL too.

Will this help for the forthcoming tough Test series to England? India has a potent bowling attack and just as they had never won a series in South Africa and had a realistic chance of doing so (but could not), similarly they have a realistic chance of winning their first series in England since 1986.

Will this series help to attain that objective?

From the players’ point of view, will it help hone their skill sets? All the matches will be played at Colombo so it will certainly help them develop a domain knowledge about the city, but how will it help them as players?

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What about fans? Will a surfeit of cricket not make them disenchanted from the wonderful game?

BCCI, please have a thought at the answers to these questions.

At the same time BCCI, why not convert this to an opportunity?

Why don’t you go in for a brand new team to give exposure to players who have not had a feel of international cricket or those who have not made a permanent place for themselves in the regular Indian team?

For a start, you can certainly think about giving regulars like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jaspreet Bmraah a much-needed break.

Virat Kohli runs between the wickets vs Pakistan

(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Chances can be given to youngsters like Rishabh Pant or Sanju Samson to have a glimpse as to whether they are ready to fill in the shoes of MS Dhoni. Jayadev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur can get a chance to start as the new ball bowlers and Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel can continue to play as spinners with Hardik Pandya getting a chance to rediscover his form.

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Lokesh Rahul and Shreyas Iyer can get a chance to show they deserve a spot on the regular team. This series could even be an opportunity to blood some youngsters into the national team.

Yes, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board will cry foul, they will say you have to send your strong team. Since they have been good and obliging neighbours, you would not like to ruffle their feathers, but then you have to think about the interests of Indian cricket and Indian players first. 

BCCI, please convert this needless tour into an opportunity. 

Thank you.

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