Recap: Aus Vs India: Indian Bowlers and captaincy a big let down

While one has to look back at the just concluded series, there was some satisfaction on the batsmen front - atleast 3 batsmen were able to contribute more than the combined 6 batsmen every 1st innings. And yes, when one of these 3 failed, it was curtains for the Indian Team and this did happen almost every 2nd innings.

When we have to look at the bowlers, none other than Ashwin, came close to international standard. That was a big let down and is causing a huge embarrassment for having to slide down from the No.1 ranking. It is not that the Indian bowlers don't have the skills - to me, it is the application that matters the most. How will one take wickets with just raw pace with no line and length whatsoever. What does the coaching staff do in these cases? God only knows...

Indian had 19 players and not win a test match?

Also, It is not the question of replacing Fletcher with Ravi Shastri since the results have not improved much. It has to do (a) with improving the infrastructure facilities for Ranji Trophy matches, (b) having bowlers only for Test Cricket - this would ensure that they are available for atleast 8-10 years of playing cricket, (c) have more A series matches and (b) allow these Test cricket bowlers to play more in England and Australia.

The BCCI has to stop the inside politics and focus on cricket. We require former players and not administrators who can take this team to the next level. Now is the time or never...

The main reason why Ganguly was successful as a captain is because he used bowlers irrespective of the conditions. Even in Adelaide, one could see Harbhajan and Kumble bowl in tandem and win matches for India.

I was aghast at the captaincy of Dhoni and Virat Kohli. There was no Plan B on hand. 

The 1st match at Adelaide, I saw the bowlers bowling around the stumps and were gifting half-volleys to Warner & Co, but I did not see Virat switching these bowlers to over the stumps. He was too aggressive that he had his mouth do the talking than the action on the field. In Sydney, I was stumped not have a 2nd spinner in the squad. May be, Akshar Patel would have had a great debut at Syndey. On the day 1 itself, I could see Virat employing a 1-over attack on one end from every bowler at one end with Ashwin on the other... Complete lack of planning.

In  Brisbane & Melbourne, I could see Dhoni immediately on the defensive since he does not have plan B. 

It is 4 years now and Indian Test cricket is on the wane....Virat is not the captain material for Test cricket. He, along with Dhoni  are best suited for shortened format. For Indian Test record to improve -

(a) have 2 front line spinners to begin with for all test matches and

(b) have Rohit Sharma to lead Test cricket.