BGT Rant
Welcome to the rant session of the just concluded BGT which India dropped it after holding it for 9 years across 4 series. What a massive fumble.
Honestly, we wouldn't have lost this if we have applied our senses a bit. Stupid team management, stupid team selection, stupid batters, stupid execution of plans, stupid stupid stupid to put in Gavaskar's terms.
Only 3 players(YBJ, Bumrah and NKR) are susceptible to the rant as they tried their best to save this sinking ship while everyone else was busy playing violin.
Let’s start with my favourite, Shubman Gill. The amount of annoyance I got by watching the way he got out is unexplainable. He’s touted to be a generational talent but fucker decides to step out for the last ball before lunch to donate his wicket to freaking Lyon on a green top wicket. How stupid? Zero game awareness, neither is the performance good enough to support nor is the way he loses his wicket. I have put in a brave face saying Gill will come good. Starting to doubt if he ever will.
The next on the list is the international Sanju Samson, KL Rahul. One of the most massive underachievers I have ever seen. Blud can easily be ruling the world across the formats yet he chooses to be a dumbass. Leaving the white ball aside, KL got a wonderful start with a couple of 80s on tough pitch against the relentless bowling attack. He was awesome leaving the ball, one that the cheer leader should take notes on. But as the tour proceeded, blud went missing. Yes, he got a few peaches to be dismissed but mostly the temperament went missing again. What should have been a fabulous series with at least one century ends up an above average tour. At 32, doubt if he will ever realise the talent he has or continue to be the mediocre that he is.
Next on the list is Pant, no harsh words. Pant played mostly well. He seemed to be troubled a lot by Cummins yet the innings in SCG was pure gold. Wish he had better sense in the Melbourne game.
Coming to the lower order, my lovable brainless duo of Washi and Jadeja. While Jadeja is known for being boneheaded while batting with tailenders, never did I think Washi would be as well. You don't take the single of the first ball while batting with Vivian Siraj or Bumrah. He possesses superb skill to be in the top order itself yet if you can't adapt or use them to your convenience, what use of it. In the last test, blud should have gone down attacking. The pitch was never going to ease up yet there wasn't one attacking shot he tried. Washi has been around international cricket for 8 years now, high time he realises he's no longer the youngster he thinks he is before ending up as another KL Rahul.
Jadeja is a torture to watch as a viewer. He played well and there were some crucial breakthroughs but he was nowhere near his best. Maybe if it's the age or pitch, Jadeja might be looking at his exit in the next cycle.
Coming to the next player, Mohd. Siraj. I'm not going to abuse Siraj for showing emotions on the field. There's no hard and fast rule nor can one be aware of stats that one shouldn't celebrate the wicket of a batter who scored the century. Times he went beyond line but that's sport. He's full of heart. Even as a bowler he tried his best to give it all. There were frustrating periods where he bowled too poor yet that doesn't deny the work he has been doing around 5 tests. Only Indian bowler who bowled in all the 5 tests. Siraj could have had a better series if the brain dead team management didn't choose to play a specialist batter in Washington at 8. He was made to carry the load.
Not much to say about Akash Deep or Prasidh Krishna. Akash Deep was unlucky with too many close calls and dropped catches, a probable successor to Mohd. Shami. Prasidh Krishna played his second test, there was no control over the line or length. Wish he develops them with time, can be handy for the tall bowler he is and the pace he generates.
Coming to the trio of the Indian team who were the major reason why we fumbled the trophy, Rohit, Kohli and Gambhir.
Let's start with Kohli, the official cheer leader of the team. The aggressive antics were fun to watch and I enjoyed it but when your performance don't show, it makes you look like a clown not king. His shoulder barging with Konstas was totally unnecessary. A player of his stature should have the maturity on what is okay and what is not okay on the field. That wasn't aggression, that was Kohli making a clown of himself.
At least the performances are any good, nope. Nothing to show except for that hundred on Perth. It was sad for a bit when he got out prodding the off stump line. It was funny after a while but it was tragic to see him fall in the same manner. 9 innings, 8 outs and every single time blud managed to poke the off stump ball to the slips. He used to be an authoritative figure that I can rely on him to take us through but the fall has been steep in the last few years. He has been worse than Rahane or Pujara in their last tours. The stats have fallen so bad that he averages under 47 now. A player who once averaged 51. It's a tragic fall and if he desires to have a better ending to his red ball career, he should retire immediately coz it's not going to get any easier in England.
I have had a love hate relationship with Rohit Sharma. Brother man rejuvenated his test career in 2019 and the run was fantabulous but unfortunately he doesn't know he has to stop coz it's shambolic at the moment. He could manage only 31 runs in 6 innings tells the tale. Yes, he was good but he's not now. With age not on his side and a form woeful as his, he should step aside for the next generation to take over yet brother is giving interviews stating he's not done. This is not selflessness but the opposite. The whole hungama with dressing room leaks over GG's talk. The "opt out" drama and making Vidya Balan who doesn't follow cricket tweet in support, ICT is a mess. It has been a mess but at least it was managed well to not show it to the world. Rohit's ineptitude in batting and captaincy was exposed brutally in the NZ and Australia series. It's time for my brother to pack up. Unfortunately, my brother wants to continue the drama and tarnish whatever is left of his name.
Last but not the least, the destroyer of Indian cricket, Gautam Gambhir. GG will go down as a perfect example of why you shouldn't select coaches based on their interviews and IPL stint. He has driven ICT to the ground in 6 months of time. ODI series loss to SL, whitewash to second string NZ side at home, BGT defeats the Aussies. A pro-forma that would be shameful to show in the future. GG made several questionable tactics in the series from opting different players for different situations to playing 2 spinners and not using them. The list could go on. But the most annoying thing is, he has shown zero accountability to any of the things that happened in ICT. He hasn't shown his face once to the press. The coward sent Washington to the press after the Melbourne game. Modi would have been proud.
The team will definitely not flourish under him. There's no sense of transparency nor reasoning as to why one is played and one is not played. CT is crucial for him to survive and for a team coming from 6 month break from ODIs where they lost the series, it's not looking good bruh.
Aussies have won the battle but they were equally bad. My honest expectations were 4-0 or 5-0 pummelling not this close fought contest. Goes only to prove how bad they have been. Hope they lose to SA in the WTC final.
ICT has seen very few good days post 2021. The defeats have increased and the wins have diminished. The trend will continue till the seniors pave way and the imprudent coach is sacked.
Adios!
#BGT
#Rant
