“We respect them, but we do not fear them”. While I was working for one of India’s leading companies, this was a comment made by a competitor about us.
This stung.
It became a rallying cry for the company and soon it transformed itself into an unbeatable force in the Indian market. The competitor might be ruing the fact that it had inadvertently woken up a sleeping tiger.
We respect them, but we do not fear them – does this not ring in your mind when you think about the Indian T20 team?
The batting line up – Rohit, Rahul, Virat, Shreyas/Surya Kumar, Rishabh, maybe Karthik, Jaddu. A line up filled with great reputations, impeccable pedigree, match winners, world record holders, all format players, classic cricketers, role models.
But, but, but…
Does it evoke fear? Does it give opposition sleepless nights?
Our bowling line up might, but not our batting line up. It is predictable, routine, and boring. It might excite the connoisseurs but will fail to turn a match on its head.
“If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near “– Jack Welch.
For years, the Indian team has stuck to the mantra – if it aint failed, don’t fix it.
When we were winning all bilateral series – the negative blips of ICC tournaments were balmed over. But, with each easy win, we moved further away from becoming a force to reckon.
Unlike earlier, when Cricket was won solely on the ground, today it is won by the support teams. Match ups, set ups – these determine scores and wins/ losses.
The Indian batters, the global cash cows play so much cricket in so many stadiums that every fault gets magnified by the analysts and is brutally exposed by competition. With teammates becoming competitors in IPL, there are no secrets.
While Indian batters are over exposed, the others are experimenting. England changed the rules of ODI after its disastrous 2015 ODI world cup. Other teams did not have to see ignominy to change gears. In most teams, power hitters who can change the game in a few balls come one after another. The line ups are unpredictable, explosive and unleash fear.
And, here is where the change from within is failing us.
Is it again the 2007 moment? Time to rid ourselves of the past and change to a new look team?
If done, we might start winning ICC trophies again. If not done – we would remain respected, not feared.
