CORE TEAM
| Date :03-Feb-2020 |
The current tour of New Zealand has achieved what the selectors wanted to test. The performance of the youngsters has given confidence to the selectors that they have already sorted out their problem areas in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup in Australia with choices falling in place. Those who have been given the opportunity have made most of them. For batting coach Vikram Rathour this new generation of cricketers is incredible.
They quickly get acclimatised to the conditions and give out their best. It is on the back of their adaptability that Indian cricket team has achieved near invincibility on the current tour of New Zealand. There is no bogey of alien conditions nor are they scared of the change of format. For the last few months the Indian selectors have been trying out various players both in bowling and batting in preparation of the World Cup. While some like Rishabh Pant, who was billed to be the successor of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as wicket-keeper batsman, could not do justice to his talent and reputation as a rising star despite getting a fairly long rope to perform, others, however, have made full use of their chances, both during the home series against West Indies, Australia and now against New Zealand on their home turf.
As a result this tour has gone exceptionally well for the Indian team’s preparation for the big event and fill up the slots with promising youngsters. This performance of the young boys, not to speak of the seasoned seniors, has prompted the batting coach to remark that Indian selectors have found the core for the World Cup. K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur and a few others did India proud. In fact the phenomenal form that K. L. Rahul is currently showing has put the selectors and the team management in a quandary as to whom to choose between Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan to partner Rohit Sharma at the opening slot. Thus it is a happy dilemma for Team India.
Once during the tour Rahul was put at the number 4 position where also he performed according to the situation. Thus he offers the team management another choice and that is critical number 4 batting slot where not long back the team appeared to be vulnerable to collapse. And if the top three failed to give the impetus the team would appear weakened. But with Rahul showing his true class in recent weeks team India is in an enviable position. The current tour of New Zealand has also done one more good to Team India; it has been able to erase the unwanted tag of poor travellers. Batting coach Rathour has reason to be happy that the more opportunities the young guns are getting they are making the most of them.