Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami’s impressive displays on Test debut comes at crucial time for Team India
Rohit Sharma (left) and Mohammed Shami (centre) starred in India’s convincing win over West Indies in the first Test at the Eden Gardens © PTI
Mohammed Shami and Rohit Sharma, the two debutants in the Kolkata Test helped India win the contest against West Indies, but their performances have come at a critical time. Rohit scored this ton in the backdrop of Sachin Tendulkar’s impending retirement, whereas Shami rose to the challenge when India are still trying to work out a good fast-bowling combination. Nishad Pai Vaidya looks at the larger benefits of their stunning debuts.
The Indian team has witnessed a drastic change of guard in Test cricket during the course of the last 18 months. It all started with the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, followed by the axing of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan. Now, Sachin Tendulkar is set bid adieu and he leaves behind a very young side. Consider the line-up that played the recent Kolkata Test against West Indies. While Tendulkar has played a total of 199 Tests, the other 10 players have featured in 177 combined. That tells you the story!
However, the young guns have inspired confidence and given hope for a much smoother transition. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli perfectly fit into the mould. However, the recent debutants have shown incredible fight in their maiden games. Shikhar Dhawan bludgeoned 187 against Australia early this year and now Mohammed Shami and Rohit Sharma have stolen the limelight. They lit up the stage during the first Test against West Indies and have repaid the faith of the team management.
Shami’s emergence is a very encouraging development. It has come in the backdrop of Ishant Sharma’s struggle and Zaheer’s absence from the side. The selectors took the brave move of fielding Shami along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was only four Tests old. But, the Indian pace bowling attack looked a lot more effective. At one end, you had Bhuvneshwar, who lacks in pace but makes up for it with copious movement. Shami is quicker and also has enough movement to trouble the batsmen.
The great aspect about Shami’s performance was his reverse swing. It looked like he had planned most of the dismissals and stuck to his blueprint. He was holding his line and length consistently and surprised batsmen with his pace. With only one more Test to go at home before the tour to South Africa, Shami has certainly booked his spot for that sojourn. India also have Umesh Yadav sitting on the bench and he may come in as the third seamer for the South African tour.
On a track that had more for the spinners, Shami showed that he can be a match-winner. Getting that reverse swing and bowling it at a good pace, he kept deceiving the batsmen consistently. Here is another Indian fast-bowler who has emerged as a match-winner and the team management has to nurture him well. He has tremendous potential and could be a handful in South Africa, New Zealand and England — India’s next overseas assignments.
Rohit’s debut ton also comes at a very critical time for Indian cricket. After the second Test in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium, that familiar figure would no longer walk out to bat at No 4, leaving a huge void in Indian cricket. Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement leaves a huge gap in the batting line-up, but the team management needn’t be worried. Rohit’s emergence has given them an assurance and they can work their batting line-up accordingly.
During India’s upcoming assignments, Virat Kohli should be promoted to No 4 as he has been in the line-up for two years now. Being more experienced, he will be the preferred option to bat there with Pujara at No 3. Rohit would thus bat at No 5, a spot higher than where he batted on his debut. So, in effect he has plugged one spot in the line-up and a fit Ravindra Jadeja may come back into the side to complete it.
Although India have won their last five Tests in-a-row, the rebuilding phase continues. After all, it is difficult to replace the greatness and quality of some of the seniors. However, these youngsters have presented hope that the transition phase may not be as difficult and prolonged as one thought. It is only a question of them maintaining their own during India’s tough tours overseas.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_44)