Barring unexpected resistance faced in the third match, India’s Test series against the West Indies was a cakewalk. The home team simply lacked the virtues that make a good team for the five-day format: talent, technique, patience, discipline and ambition.
Without players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, the West Indies are easy prey in Test cricket currently and this must be factored in when assessing India’s performances on this tour.
I would imagine chief coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli — along with the selectors — would have already begun such analyses as a long spell of Test cricket involving 13 matches looms on the horizon.
Of significance is how the players responded to the demands made by the captain and match situations. Happily, most picked up the gauntlet thrown at them and produced high-class performances.
There was no rank failure, though Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara would look back with some regret at failing to make the most of a weak opposition, and Murali Vijay would rue the injury that cost him his place.
Shami and Bhuvaneshwar came back strongly, while Amit Mishra and Ravidra Jadeja, despite not playing all matches, showed their value. In the batting, apart from Kohli, Rahane proved yet again he is the team’s most reliable.
Two players stood out, however: Ravichandran Ashwin and K L Rahul. Ashwin’s overseas record till this time was tepid. There was a question mark against him. Rahul’s potential was undoubted, but he hadn’t been able to fix a place in the side.
The crux of their success is not only in statistical achievements, but how they seized the opportunity to leave a mark. It showed mental toughness and relish for a challenge.
Ashwin’s promotion to number 6 in the batting order may have been because Kohli wanted a five-member bowling attack. But only if the off-spinner made runs would this move have been of continued value.
The onus was on Ashwin to validate the captain’s decision. Importantly, this couldn’t come at the cost of his bowling. There couldn’t be a trade-off, as this would make the game-plan go awry.
In the past, the hugely talented Irfan Pathan got into a dilemma between prioritizing batting and bowling, and faded away prematurely. It is in this context that Ashwin’s all-round success must be read.
From an experimental, makeshift all-rounder, Ashwin holds out promise of being a genuine one. In the long home season, he has extended opportunity to give his newfound status — and prowess — greater credence.
Rahul’s performance was no less fascinating. Much younger and with far less international experience than Ashwin, his success in the West Indies capped a wonderful, transformative season.
With two Test centuries under his belt, Rahul was still not a regular. This is a talented and powerful Indian batting line-up with nobody on the verge of retirement. Waiting on the sidelines could be frustratingly long and blunt desire.
Fortunately for Rahul, he didn’t have to wait long. But he had to make the chance that came his way count. Runs apart, what impressed more was the manner in which he played - a judicious and heady mix of caution and audacity.
In the previous few seasons, when he made runs aplenty for Karnataka and South Zone, Rahul was touted as the successor to Dravid: the same dogged determination, concentration, stamina and penchant for big scores was evident.
The impact of the other Rahul on any young batsman in Bangalore or India is inevitable, but in the last season K L Rahul has emerged as his own man, batting with panache and powered full-throttle by ambition.
He has worked out a rhythm for himself — more flamboyant than in the past — and expanded his repertoire of strokes to the extent that he is now a certainty even in the limited overs team.
The progress of Ashwin and Rahul in the last series will have made the others in the squad hungrier for success. Places in the team are at a premium today, and only the fittest will survive. In this internecine battle, India can only become stronger.
