The Virat Kohli - Ravi Shastri regime is primarily responsible for India's overseas woes

[Proactive_]

Even though India just fell a little but short in the recently concluded Test match, I can't help but think that the mess India have been finding themselves in overseas Test matches is nothing but self inflicted owing to the culture brought about by the Kohli-Shastri regime wherein NO ONE except Kohli can ever be sure of their places. It just ensures everyone is almost always playing under the pressure of being dropped with no backing whatsoever.

Rahane has been India's best batsman overseas by far? Let's drop him for the first two Tests in SA.

Pujara scores a match winning 50 in the last Test he played in SA? Nah, let's drop him because of his poor county season.

Dhawan scores 0&0 in the same conditions in the Practice match? No Problem, let's have him in. No hypocrisy at all there.

Kuldeep has been the Trump Card for India on this tour thus far? Nah mate, we got Umesh "Short and wide at 150 kmph" to make up for him.

It's embarrassing really. And I suspect it would get even worse until Kohli is removed from captaincy and/or Shastri is removed as coach to bring someone who can actually keep Kohli's stupid selection decisions in check.

[The_Odd_One]

His deluded fans think he's a better captain than Sarfraz. He "inspires" his team, they say.

[Wasim_Waqar]

Their inappropriate selections will cost them in the World Cup next year.

[akki]

Virat kohli is best batsman in the world but probably worst captian in the world. Although he is the captain of n.o 1 test team and n.o 1or 2nd odi team .but you give captaincy to even ishant sharma ,still results wud be the same.
But tgere is one thing that test captaincy has helped him infact to get better hold of his batting but his team selection right from south africa even before series til now is worst.
I wonder where are those people saying something about ms dhoni.

[ManFan]

His deluded fans think he's a better captain than Sarfraz. He "inspires" his team, they say.

He has a majestic beard and “aggression”.

Signs of a leader who will not back down.

[happydavy]

Yes Pujara would have scored 2 double centuries in 2 innings on this ground like he has always done in overseas tests. Rahane doesn't need to score runs, he shud be automatically selected and never dropped because he once scored a century at lords. And finally, yes we crib about selecting Dhawan and Sharma on ODI form but hey why not select Kuldeep on ODI form. That we are contradicting ourselves can be ignored.

Come on guys, none of the current batsmen baring Kohli are good enough to play tough conditions, and we are being delusional if we think one change here or there will start winning us matches.

[thelandofthebravepeople]

214 runs were scored by the other 9 batters in 18 innings. Kohli scored 200.
I don't think the problem is 1 or 2 players in or out of the team. But agree. They should trust this 11 and back them.

Bowling is not a problem as they have done well both in SA and this first test. Took 20 wickets every time and batters had modest target to chase.

[Zaz]

There does seem to be a lot of unnecessary chopping and changing in the team all the time

I guess some heads will fall after this test too but players need confidence, they need to be backed and given a long rope

Very surprised theres no kuldeep after his odi series and pujara shouldve been backed Surely hes one of your better players and no matter what his current fc form shouldve played

[Zaz]

When was the last time the same test x1 was put out by kohli/shastri?

[Mamoon]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

[Slim]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

Aww, look at you making excuses for your favorite team.

To the OP: Why are you guys so predictable? As soon as you lose, King Kohli turns to Insecure selfish Kohli? Why dont you just accept the fact that your team is not good enough and is a one man show.

[Sam99]

These virat fans and other cricket fans won't ask question about kohli's captaincy and poor selections because he scores runs and has aura. His field placing to bowlers was pretty avg too. More than that he keeps shikhar dhawan in slips when this is dropping almost everything coming at him (and then he keeps laughing at it). Kohli keeps dropping key players (Rahane, Rahul, Pujara & Bhuvi) when he need to give them confidence. How can you expect them to play with full confidence when they are not sure if they will be in playing xi for next match? Kohli is clueless as captain and has no idea what players are best for his team and which players he needs to back more. The time he will fail with bat then people will start realizing how crap he is as a captain.

[Ab Fan]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

Or had they not went with "Home Track Bullies" and made the batting so unsettled?

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

But, Kohli himself said he would have bowled first any way, so what is your point now? Captain feels bowling first would be advantageous. Surely, Kohli knows much better than you.

These COULD and WOULD doesn't make any difference. We LOST. It's an international game, and we should be able to chase such low scores, especially being a "#1 team". No excuses, as it's a sign of a LOSER.

We should replace duds in the batting, and throw out fake AR with a brilliant hairstyle.

[Proactive_]

214 runs were scored by the other 9 batters in 18 innings. Kohli scored 200.
I don't think the problem is 1 or 2 players in or out of the team. But agree. They should trust this 11 and back them.

Bowling is not a problem as they have done well both in SA and this first test. Took 20 wickets every time and batters had modest target to chase.

The point is that you can't have a team of 11 going on to the field in a Test match with 10 of them not sure whether they would be playing the next Test or not. It's just another element of unnecessary pressure being put on every player who already has the challenge of facing alien conditions against a good bowling attack. Hell I would even attribute Rahane's sudden tentativeness overseas in conditions he has ALWAYS performed well in, to his shocking dropping in South Africa for Rohit freaking Sharma of all people. The regime has mentally destroyed someone who could have been an outstanding No.5 for a decade to a scared circumspect kitten fighting for his place in the team in every Test match.

Not to mention that Kohli and Shastri are fully capable of dropping players even when they're performing! Take the case of Kuldeep being dropped in the T20 series. It's just an embarrassing series of events which does no good for anybody.

Just have 11 concrete players for the Test team and back them properly FGS!

[Ab Fan]

^ Kohli also said he would have bowled first during the first test vs SA in SA.

[ManFan]

You’re team is a very fine unit and has been competitive overseas for the first time in years due to a well-regulated bowling attack.

Kohli deserves criticism for not playing certain players in SA which was a golden opportunity wasted to become the first Asian Test team to win there. Shastri is a pawn, a facade of a coach who is only there to harp (while collecting a hefty check) about the real man in charge, King Kohli.

Who in there right mind can question his authority in the Indian team right now? No one because he is the best in the world at what he does.

The real blame lies in your top-order and middle-order failures. They are old and not going to get any better by nicking off catches to second slip in England and forcing India to yet another overseas loss.

I would invest in young blood and even if they fail, they will have had a baptism under fire that will ensure they come out tougher and tighter (technique wise).

[Varun]

When was the last time the same test x1 was put out by kohli/shastri?

Don't know about Shastri, but by Kohli: NEVER.

[Bewal Express]

With the talent they have got, they should be doing much better. Kohli is a brilliant player but a poor captain

[Ahmed216]

Cant agree more with this post. Constant changing and chopping affects the confidence of the players. I mean uve played rahane on away tours and hes done reasonaly well but kohli didnt start with him in SA.
kohli thinks he's such an expert he can predict who'll score on a given day or under certain conditions. He's picked the nodder shastri and got rid of dissenter kumble

[Sam99]

I heard kumble wanted rahane as captain for test matches after aus series and that's reason kumble got sacked from coaching. Rahane since then never got backing from kohli and shastri and his confidence as player has gone down drastically.

[Titan24]

That talent in batting is limited to flat tracks or spin friendly conditions.

There are problems in bowling as well, not all the pitches are gonna be assisting spin like this did and that is why ashwin performed and was a cruicial factor in the Indian compettiveness.

Yadav and Ishant average 35 for a reason and that is inconsistency. Yes Ishant bowled a really good spell and maybe Yadav will bowl one as well but they lack consistency and in that way winning or drawing the series is a big ask.

[Varun]

I heard kumble wanted rahane as captain for test matches after aus series and that's reason kumble got sacked from coaching. Rahane since then never got backing from kohli and shastri and his confidence as player has gone down drastically.

Where do you hear such juicy stuff?

[Sam99]

Where do you hear such juicy stuff?

Heard it somewhere when kumble was sacked as coach after 2017 ct.

[Slim]

I heard kumble wanted rahane as captain for test matches after aus series and that's reason kumble got sacked from coaching. Rahane since then never got backing from kohli and shastri and his confidence as player has gone down drastically.

Rahane is such a poor batsman. LOL. He would have been fired by now.

[Proactive_]

I heard kumble wanted rahane as captain for test matches after aus series and that's reason kumble got sacked from coaching. Rahane since then never got backing from kohli and shastri and his confidence as player has gone down drastically.

Kohli has genuine issues with Pujara as well. Remember him dropping Pujara and putting Rohit Sharma at No.3 And when Sharma failed at No.3, he tried to push an established No.5 in Rahane to No.3 just to accommodate Rohit in the team. Pujara saved his career with an outstanding 100 in the 3rd Test against SL, a chance he got only due to an injury. Now he's dropped Pujara supposedly for not doing well in Counties even though he had a match winning 50 in the last Test he played while he has no issues playing Dhawan who bagged a pair in the practice match.

The bias couldn't be clearer. Kohli is by far the biggest politician I've seen in the Indian team in my lifetime. The needs someone like Kumble to keep this brat in check.

[asadee]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

In Indias 11-0 world cup record they have won 10 out of 11 tosses..so I guess we have been v unlucky and would have been the other way had we won the toss

[Varun]

Kohli has genuine issues with Pujara as well. Remember him dropping Pujara and putting Rohit Sharma at No.3 And when Sharma failed at No.3, he tried to push an established No.5 in Rahane to No.3 just to accommodate Rohit in the team. Pujara saved his career with an outstanding 100 in the 3rd Test against SL, a chance he got only due to an injury. Now he's dropped Pujara supposedly for not doing well in Counties even though he had a match winning 50 in the last Test he played while he has no issues playing Dhawan who bagged a pair in the practice match.

The bias couldn't be clearer. Kohli is by far the biggest politician I've seen in the Indian team in my lifetime. The needs someone like Kumble to keep this brat in check.

I'm not too anti-dropping Pujara. He has hardly showed his mettle in all these years. Was the match winning 50 in question the one where he was 0 (50) at one point?

In any case, he only scored a single 50 across 6 innings - tells the story.

[emm-tee]

In Indias 11-0 world cup record they have won 10 out of 11 tosses..so I guess we have been v unlucky and would have been the other way had we won the toss

I'll wait for his lengthy reply trying to come up with another explanation for that. **

[MenInG]

4 Tests to go. Long way to go in this series. This is the beauty of Test cricket.

[Proactive_]

I'm not too anti-dropping Pujara. He has hardly showed his mettle in all these years. Was the match winning 50 in question the one where he was 0 (50) at one point?

In any case, he only scored a single 50 across 6 innings - tells the story.

He was one of the three batsman to score a 50 for India in the series, and it could be argued that he was a tad unlucky getting run out in both the innings of the 2nd Test on the easiest surface of the series. He's miles better than the garbage that has been replacing him since 2015.

[Slim]

Kohli has genuine issues with Pujara as well. Remember him dropping Pujara and putting Rohit Sharma at No.3 And when Sharma failed at No.3, he tried to push an established No.5 in Rahane to No.3 just to accommodate Rohit in the team. Pujara saved his career with an outstanding 100 in the 3rd Test against SL, a chance he got only due to an injury. Now he's dropped Pujara supposedly for not doing well in Counties even though he had a match winning 50 in the last Test he played while he has no issues playing Dhawan who bagged a pair in the practice match.

The bias couldn't be clearer. Kohli is by far the biggest politician I've seen in the Indian team in my lifetime. The needs someone like Kumble to keep this brat in check.

LOL yes blame Kohli for all evils, classic. Pujara who has an average of 28 outside India and has been failing continuously and somehow it is Kohli who has genuine issues with Pujara.

Rahane another case, is aged 30 and has not achieved a single milestone in his cricketing career. A supposed overseas specialist who cannot play spin and fails everytime when push comes to shove.

Its almost like the delusional lot thinks Kohli the only performing player is the problem rather than the team and the players themselves.

[happydavy]

He was one of the three batsman to score a 50 for India in the series, and it could be argued that he was a tad unlucky getting run out in both the innings of the 2nd Test on the easiest surface of the series. He's miles better than the garbage that has been replacing him since 2015.

If he was tad unlucky getting run out then he was massively lucky for not being given out on zero in the inning he scored the fifty. Replays suggested he was plumb lbw, lucky for him SA thought ball was going over the stumps and didn't review.

[happydavy]

Where do you hear such juicy stuff?

In India you hear such stories at every pan walla shop.. 2 things every pan waala in India seem to know about are India cricket team inside stories and real estate price trend. And I am sure few smart people on this forum even believe those stories.

[Savage]

If he was tad unlucky getting run out then he was massively lucky for not being given out on zero in the inning he scored the fifty. Replays suggested he was plumb lbw, lucky for him SA thought ball was going over the stumps and didn't review.

Batsmen needed luck to survive on that pitch.Pujara was lucky but so was Kohli who was dropped twice in that innings.

[Proactive_]

LOL yes blame Kohli for all evils, classic. Pujara who has an average of 28 outside India and has been failing continuously and somehow it is Kohli who has genuine issues with Pujara.

Rahane another case, is aged 30 and has not achieved a single milestone in his cricketing career. A supposed overseas specialist who cannot play spin and fails everytime when push comes to shove.

Its almost like the delusional lot thinks Kohli the only performing player is the problem rather than the team and the players themselves.

Yeah, the push certainly didn't come to shove when he was the highest scorer in the critical 3rd innings at Johannesburg coming off of getting dropped in the previous 2 Tests for Rohit "Tailunt" Sharma, the only Test that India won in that series. Not to mention the Lords hundred, the MCG hundred, the hundred at Wellington coming in at No.7 (below Rohit Sharma ) and taking India to 400+ from 150 odd for 5. If Rahane hasn't achieved a single milestone then what the hell have the likes of Rohit achieved?

[TeamPak95]

Even though he didn't have a good county stint, I was still surprised that Pujara didn't make the XI. I feel maybe Dhawan should be dropped for Pujara and have Rahul open with Vijay for the 2nd test.

[happydavy]

I am no shastri fan, he's just a glorified cheerleader who probably doesn't do anything. Nor I say Kohli is some great captain. But all I know is for the first time in Indian cricket, there's a captain who doesn't give excuses abt losing abroad and tries to actually win abroad. Yes he has an ordinary team but anyday of the week, I would rather him decide what's the playing xi and who should bat where because unlike his predecessors he is desperate to actually win series. Glory is his and so is shame and he knows that.

[happydavy]

Batsmen needed luck to survive on that pitch.Pujara was lucky but so was Kohli who was dropped twice in that innings.

And your point being? When u get run out twice because u r a poor runner is being unlucky but when u r not given out tho u r out is the luck u deserve?

[Savage]

Tbh I was happy with selection of this match.Pujara is a 50/50 call and due to his county form he was dropped

[Savage]

And your point being? When u get run out twice because u r a poor runner is being unlucky but when u r not given out tho u r out is the luck u deserve?

I'm just saying his 50 was a good knock and that's it.I'm not concerned with his run outs as he's got only himself to blame.

[iniqbal223]

Where do you hear such juicy stuff?

http://www.newindianexpress.com/maga...e-1622314.html

Rahane captained 1, won 1 - Kohli.
Had full backing of Kumble to be next test captain

[The_Odd_One]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

It was due to Kohli's individual brilliance that India even had a chance. When you can't chase even 200, it's not bad luck but poor display of batting.

[happydavy]

Btw Pujara and ravindra jadeja fans should know how they get into Indian team in first place. When Pujara was dropped 2-3 years back, saurashtra prepared absolute roads for ranji where pujara scored those dud hundreds and got into the team. Next season when jadeja was out of the team, they prepared rank turners and jadeja took some 40 wkts in 3 matches and in each of the match he opened the bowling. This is how saurashtra officials create first class records for their players to help them get into the team..

[happydavy]

I'm just saying his 50 was a good knock and that's it.I'm not concerned with his run outs as he's got only himself to blame.

Got it..IMO Pujara has played enough number of matches abroad to have his fair share of luck and bad fortunes. If after so many matches he averages 28 then there's something wrong with the man and luck can't be a factor for non performance

[RedwoodOriginal]

Even though he didn't have a good county stint, I was still surprised that Pujara didn't make the XI. I feel maybe Dhawan should be dropped for Pujara and have Rahul open with Vijay for the 2nd test.

I also think Rahul should open because he has greater potential of doing well than Dhawan -- who I'm sure will be badly exposed in this series. But Rahul looked really ugly against the moving ball in the second innings and went second ball in the first. So the likely change will be Rahul making way for Pujara and Jadeja for Yadav if the track is dry.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Btw Pujara and ravindra jadeja fans should know how they get into Indian team in first place. When Pujara was dropped 2-3 years back, saurashtra prepared absolute roads for ranji where pujara scored those dud hundreds and got into the team. Next season when jadeja was out of the team, they prepared rank turners and jadeja took some 40 wkts in 3 matches and in each of the match he opened the bowling. This is how saurashtra officials create first class records for their players to help them get into the team..

Lol this is hilarious if true

[Ahmed216]

But with kohli at the helm even his replacement KL cant be sure of spot in playing 11 next match. Its this insecurity among the players which in my opinion is hurting Indian team

[RedwoodOriginal]

Indian batting is probably the best in the world on flat-tracks but in conditions where the ball moves around it's basically a one man unit and sometimes a two man unit

[Ahson8]

They have been quite unlucky as well. Their three defeats in South Africa and England have come in three tight run chases, all three results could have been the other way round had they won the toss.

An anti-fluke, then ?

[MenInG]

Indian batting just can’t depend on Virat every now & then Indian batting got to perform better then this ..
I hope Hindustan make a strong come back in series ..

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 4, 2018

[happydavy]

Lol this is hilarious if true

https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-sou...itches-1491800

"Jadeja has been in amazing form in the Ranji Trophy, having picked up 37 wickets in just three games at an outstanding average of just nine. He has taken six straight five-wicket hauls and this red-hot streak has resulted in Jadeja getting a call-up into the Indian Test team after a gap of one year."

"We have just had a case where Saurashtra has won three of its Ranji Trophy matches in two days with Ravindra Jadeja opening the bowling. He is turning the ball square," he said

Welcome to India!

[Hasan123]

This game wasn't lost due to team selection . The other batsmen should have performed better. They are experienced enough to handle the pressure of test cricket. The bowlers did the job it was the batting that let India down.

In South Africa the team selection was awful and very questionable. But can't blame the team selection in this game.

[Savak]

TBH the massive gap between Kohli and the rest of the batting line up is the main worry. Its like Tendulkar in the mid 90's having to carry the hopes of the entire nation

[in_cutter]

Even though India just fell a little but short in the recently concluded Test match, I can't help but think that the mess India have been finding themselves in overseas Test matches is nothing but self inflicted owing to the culture brought about by the Kohli-Shastri regime wherein NO ONE except Kohli can ever be sure of their places. It just ensures everyone is almost always playing under the pressure of being dropped with no backing whatsoever.

Rahane has been India's best batsman overseas by far? Let's drop him for the first two Tests in SA.

Pujara scores a match winning 50 in the last Test he played in SA? Nah, let's drop him because of his poor county season.

Dhawan scores 0&0 in the same conditions in the Practice match? No Problem, let's have him in. No hypocrisy at all there.

Kuldeep has been the Trump Card for India on this tour thus far? Nah mate, we got Umesh "Short and wide at 150 kmph" to make up for him.

It's embarrassing really. And I suspect it would get even worse until Kohli is removed from captaincy and/or Shastri is removed as coach to bring someone who can actually keep Kohli's stupid selection decisions in check.

But Ind have always been a poor overseas Test side?

[Adijazz1706]

https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-sou...itches-1491800

"Jadeja has been in amazing form in the Ranji Trophy, having picked up 37 wickets in just three games at an outstanding average of just nine. He has taken six straight five-wicket hauls and this red-hot streak has resulted in Jadeja getting a call-up into the Indian Test team after a gap of one year."

"We have just had a case where Saurashtra has won three of its Ranji Trophy matches in two days with Ravindra Jadeja opening the bowling. He is turning the ball square," he said

Welcome to India!

Unbelievable, are the selectors dumb idiots?

[RedwoodOriginal]

https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-sou...itches-1491800

"Jadeja has been in amazing form in the Ranji Trophy, having picked up 37 wickets in just three games at an outstanding average of just nine. He has taken six straight five-wicket hauls and this red-hot streak has resulted in Jadeja getting a call-up into the Indian Test team after a gap of one year."

"We have just had a case where Saurashtra has won three of its Ranji Trophy matches in two days with Ravindra Jadeja opening the bowling. He is turning the ball square," he said

Welcome to India!

"He is turning the ball square"

Hahahaha

[Rahul1]

He was one of the three batsman to score a 50 for India in the series, and it could be argued that he was a tad unlucky getting run out in both the innings of the 2nd Test on the easiest surface of the series. He's miles better than the garbage that has been replacing him since 2015.

Kohli has genuine issues with Pujara as well. Remember him dropping Pujara and putting Rohit Sharma at No.3 And when Sharma failed at No.3, he tried to push an established No.5 in Rahane to No.3 just to accommodate Rohit in the team. Pujara saved his career with an outstanding 100 in the 3rd Test against SL, a chance he got only due to an injury. Now he's dropped Pujara supposedly for not doing well in Counties even though he had a match winning 50 in the last Test he played while he has no issues playing Dhawan who bagged a pair in the practice match.

The bias couldn't be clearer. Kohli is by far the biggest politician I've seen in the Indian team in my lifetime. The needs someone like Kumble to keep this brat in check.

Yeah, the push certainly didn't come to shove when he was the highest scorer in the critical 3rd innings at Johannesburg coming off of getting dropped in the previous 2 Tests for Rohit "Tailunt" Sharma, the only Test that India won in that series. Not to mention the Lords hundred, the MCG hundred, the hundred at Wellington coming in at No.7 (below Rohit Sharma ) and taking India to 400+ from 150 odd for 5. If Rahane hasn't achieved a single milestone then what the hell have the likes of Rohit achieved?

Pujara averages an utterly pathetic 27 outside Asia and that is just as bad as Rohit and Dhawan. Rohit and Dhawan don't deserve to be in the test team, but neither does Pujara and no argument of yours is going to convince me otherwise.

[BaankeJi]

Keep it cool. Before pronouncing any judgement, wait for the series to get over. This was first test if the tour. They would have learnt their lessons now. 2nd test onwards will be real games.

[RamLakhan]

Shastri should bring in Smrithi Mandana from Mumbai to keep the left-right hand combo going! She is already in England right now & in form!

[big_gamer007]

Nope the truth is Indians are just not good enough.

When Rahane, Rahul did not play people said we lost because these two were not playing.. when theee two played people want someone else to play..

It’s simple we are just not enough to win overseas.. This is the worst indian batting line up for overseas in tests in last 40+ years.. Earlier it used to be Sachin now its Kohli.. People wanting Iyer, shaw, Gill etc are in for a shock nothing will change even if we got these guys in.. One of them might go on to become the next kohli once kohli retires but others will be as mediocre as current batsmen..

This has been the story of indian cricket since its inception whenever we go out of India we either don’t have bowlers or we have batsmen out of form or we just aren’t good enough.

End of the day cricket is the only sport we play and we can’t even be good at it, it’s a joke.

[TheLastGreatMan]

Nope the truth is Indians are just not good enough.

When Rahane, Rahul did not play people said we lost because these two were not playing.. when theee two played people want someone else to play..

It’s simple we are just not enough to win overseas.. This is the worst indian batting line up for overseas in tests in last 40+ years.. Earlier it used to be Sachin now its Kohli.. People wanting Iyer, shaw, Gill etc are in for a shock nothing will change even if we got these guys in.. One of them might go on to become the next kohli once kohli retires but others will be as mediocre as current batsmen..

This has been the story of indian cricket since its inception whenever we go out of India we either don’t have bowlers or we have batsmen out of form or we just aren’t good enough.

End of the day cricket is the only sport we play and we can’t even be good at it, it’s a joke.

We are the best amongst the worst right now.SA lost 2 matches convincingly against one of the weakest SL teams

[RamLakhan]

We are the best amongst the worst right now.SA lost 2 matches convincingly against one of the weakest SL teams

Cricket is probably the only sport which is so much dependent on conditions and playing area! The next closer one Tennis at least has a symmetry when it comes to laying different courts! So instead of being too critical about players, appreciate when they do well (especially when they achieve something out from their home). Hence cricket is the actual challenging game which demands different skills in different conditions which no other sport does! If you want to negate this, then you should stick to T20 which can remove the conditions completely with 10 wickets available for just 20 overs and bowlers need to bowl only 4 overs (both bowlers & batsman don't need any sustainability skills to worry about!)

[TheLastGreatMan]

Cricket is probably the only sport which is so much dependent on conditions and playing area! The next closer one Tennis at least has a symmetry when it comes to laying different courts! So instead of being too critical about players, appreciate when they do well (especially when they achieve something out from their home). Hence cricket is the actual challenging game which demands different skills in different conditions which no other sport does! If you want to negate this, then you should stick to T20 which can remove the conditions completely with 10 wickets available for just 20 overs and bowlers need to bowl only 4 overs (both bowlers & batsman don't need any sustainability skills to worry about!)

Add to this Cricket have 3 different versions so adapting from one version to another in short term is not simple as it seems.

[big_gamer007]

We are the best amongst the worst right now.SA lost 2 matches convincingly against one of the weakest SL teams

And we should be happy about that? Sorry but being best amongst worst is not something I expect from my team or country.. Unless we aim to be the absolute best and dominant we can never achieve great heights..

[jeeteshssaxena]

No they aren't.
We don't have a single capable batsman except kohli, this is the only reason.

[Savage]

Nope the truth is Indians are just not good enough.

When Rahane, Rahul did not play people said we lost because these two were not playing.. when theee two played people want someone else to play..

It’s simple we are just not enough to win overseas.. This is the worst indian batting line up for overseas in tests in last 40+ years.. Earlier it used to be Sachin now its Kohli.. People wanting Iyer, shaw, Gill etc are in for a shock nothing will change even if we got these guys in.. One of them might go on to become the next kohli once kohli retires but others will be as mediocre as current batsmen..

This has been the story of indian cricket since its inception whenever we go out of India we either don’t have bowlers or we have batsmen out of form or we just aren’t good enough.

End of the day cricket is the only sport we play and we can’t even be good at it, it’s a joke.

I've been wanting to say this for a while but with slight change "India just weren't good enough in Tests".Even during ODI series,India lost because England were simply better team and not because of our selections.Bhuvi is a mediocre ODI bowler who wouldn't have made any difference.On his bad day,he is a liabilty and on his good day,he is an irrelevant bowler.Rahul is also all hype with no performance so far in ODIs and averages 8 against non minnows.Selections didn't cost us ODI series as we simply lost to better team(who were also missing Woakes and hales(1st ODI on his home ground)).

In tests it is a slightly different story.Main problem for India have been our batting and fielding.India aren't doing badly overall since the start of SA series but if you remove our bowlers and Kohli,then it's been pathetic performance.Half of our side hasn't been performing.Our batting unit(barring Kohli) have been pathetic.And For a no 1 side,our fielding is not acceptable.We probably are the worst fielding side to ever been ranked no 1 in Tests.

We also don't have killer instinct which most champion teams have to do well overseas.When series was on the line and match was in the balance during 2nd test of SA series,Pandya ran himself out in the most stupidest manner possible and not to mention Pujara running himself out twice on favourable pitch along with multiple dropped catches of Ashwin's bowling(where we usually are good catchers of spinners).Again in recent match,Curran of all batsmen shifted the balance from India favour(when they were 87/7) to 50/50 by setting target of 194(also helped by dropped catches).

Another frustating part of our losses is that India's been also lucky with fielding of opposition so far.Sa which are usually good catching side dropped multiple catches of Indian batsmen(particularly of Kohli) in that series.England weren't great in catching department either.

This Indian team had potential to win those matches in SA and Eng but in the end we just weren't good enough.

[Aman]

If India lose in Aus, both need to go.

Aus wont have Warner or Smith, they should at least be able to draw the series.

[troodon]

People dissing Indian batsmen's inability to play swing. As if English batsmen were making hundreds easily on the same pitch.

Fact is, the conditions were tough. Both teams batsmen failed miserably. The only difference is that English tail was miles better than Indian tail and that was the difference.

I don't want to read much into this dead rubber. This is against a battered team on the flattest of conditions. The indications were there when Jaddu was blasting Anderson and Broad at the end of Indian innings.

[troodon]

No they aren't.
We don't have a single capable batsman except kohli, this is the only reason.

Sorry to say this. We do not have a competent tail that could bail the top and middle order's failures like England did.

[Bilal7]

Both should be sacked when India's defeat at the hands of Australia is confirmed. Maybe taking the captaincy off Kohli will motivate him to start winning more games for his team.

[lehen]

Both should be sacked when India's defeat at the hands of Australia is confirmed. Maybe taking the captaincy off Kohli will motivate him to start winning more games for his team.

I don't remember him winning and finishing games in 3 years, he is finished as a match winner and needs to re invent the skill

[PakLFC]

I reckon Kohi has become to India what Beckham was to English Football. Both delivered on the field of play but the media razzmatazz that comes/came with them is so very burdensome. Like Becks, Kohli to seems to be more or a celebrity or hubby of a Bollywood actress now then anything else. The Indian media want to build him up as some Bollywood-Cricket combo icon not that he's ever asked to be that. Perhaps behind the scenes his partner is influencing him like Victoria was Becks. It will be interesting to see how the next coach handles Kohli.

[pakistani pride]

And who is responsible for the last 70 years apart from this tour?

Fact is that India and other Asian teams are poor away from home. I do expect India to improve at some stage. From U19 to A team to B team to National team they get so much exposure abroad. Surely at some stage they will start winning away from home?

[Savak]

People dissing Indian batsmen's inability to play swing. As if English batsmen were making hundreds easily on the same pitch.

Fact is, the conditions were tough. Both teams batsmen failed miserably. The only difference is that English tail was miles better than Indian tail and that was the difference.

I don't want to read much into this dead rubber. This is against a battered team on the flattest of conditions. The indications were there when Jaddu was blasting Anderson and Broad at the end of Indian innings.

Conditions could not have been tougher than the conditions Pakistan faced in the 2010 series where we had 4-5 innings where we were bowled out for less than a 100 runs on the board. Our batting line up was non-existent in that series while India's is much touted

[Savak]

I reckon Kohi has become to India what Beckham was to English Football. Both delivered on the field of play but the media razzmatazz that comes/came with them is so very burdensome. Like Becks, Kohli to seems to be more or a celebrity or hubby of a Bollywood actress now then anything else. The Indian media want to build him up as some Bollywood-Cricket combo icon not that he's ever asked to be that. Perhaps behind the scenes his partner is influencing him like Victoria was Becks. It will be interesting to see how the next coach handles Kohli.

I think he is ill suited to be captain, his utlility will be far greater to India as a player alone.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri was paid Rs 2.05 crore by BCCI as advance fees for his services for a period of three months (from 18.07.2018 to 17.10.2018) as per the payment details on the board’s website.

[MMHS]

Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri was paid Rs 2.05 crore by BCCI as advance fees for his services for a period of three months (from 18.07.2018 to 17.10.2018) as per the payment details on the board’s website.

That's about $75US/month, or almost a million $/year!!! This is pure politics - someone at very high position wanted Shastri to be rich, because at that money BCCI can hire Moody as head coach and Andy, Donald, Warne as his technical coaches for batting, fast bowling & spin bowling ........

[in_cutter]

Thread title is misleading..as far as I can remember...historically, Ind have always been poor overseas.

[topspin]

Shashtri is just a cheerleader and isn't a really much of a coach as evident by his last stint when he was merely overseeing the appointed specialist coaches for the batting, bowling and fielding. Clearly doesn't offer much on the table and has to go.

I would replace him with Dravid who deserves a promotion following his successful U19 WC campaign. The way I see it the team needs 2 leaders in the dressing room and the Indian great has the respect, charisma, tactical awareness and man management skills to get the best out of Kohli. His calming influence and input would give him the helping hand he needs when it comes to selections, on field tactics and advising the batsmen addressing their mental state in foreign conditions.

I don't see any other alternatives to Kohli for the captaincy role because the likes of Pujara and Rahane are struggling to handle their responsibilities out in the middle with the bat and aren't leadership material, so how are they going to cope when they're burdened with captaining the side?

As Hasan mentioned in another thread, he is a leader of men but needs further refining after the tactical and selection errors he's made this series. Having said that if I had to choose a captain between Sarfraz, Misbah and Virat Kohli, in a heartbeat I would have no hesitation to go for the latter.