When you have been following cricket for 20 + years, you just know. I have seen Indian cricket where the hopes of what the outcome would be dependent on 1 player. I have seen Indian cricket where it was emerging and becoming a decent side when Bhajji, Yuvi, Sehwag, Gambhir came into the scene, I have seen Indian cricket which was eliminated in 2007, I have seen Indian cricket that became powerful enough to compete and be scared of post 2007 under MSD. The same me have seen Indian cricket who has become the best test side in the last 5 years and never complain about it. Seeing these many sides, I know or can predict what the future looks like. This future looks bleak for limited overs format and NOT the test side, even though the test side has some cracks but it can be easily repaired.
My main issues with our limited over side are
- OUTDATED Template - Be it be ODI or T20. I do not know if this template will change but we are still playing both the formats as if its 2010.
- Ego - The money IPL is pouring and the amount the cricketers have started earning from endorsement and IPL is insane. This has not led to good performance, it has only led to EGO.
- God like stature - THIS HAS TO STOP. I was never the one saying SRT is a god. I mean old me would have said once or twice in emotions but SRT was not god of cricket for me. He was a GOAT in todays term. We tend to make players god and try to worship them.
- No clear direction - We have 0 direction in whom we want in the squad, what the role is and how we want to win. I remember under Dhoni we were the best chasing unit and had a record of some sort chasing 18-19 games without losing.
- Tell me who are our main openers? KL Sharma? KL Prithvi? Prithvi Sharma? Iyer? Dhawan? Gaikwad? Gill? - WE DO NOT KNOW. Yes its good to have so much talent but will it be used?
- Tell me who our number 4 is ? Iyer? Sky? Pant? Anyone else?
- If Kohli does not play ODI's, who our number 3 is?
- Who our ALL ROUNDERS are? Jadeja... who else? Hardik is not fit, Krunal is mediocre at best, Sundar? Axar? Are they world class?
- Strategy - What is our stratergy? Keep going hard even if wickets fall? Tame down the approach and re-assess ? Is this communicated?
There are so many more things were Indian cricket is just not ready for. In 2007, when we lost the WC, we went back to drawing board as mentioned by a lot of players part of the squad and changed the approach. What have we done since 2019 loss? I want to see what we do since our early exit from this years WC.