India skipper pleads for increased preparation before events like WTC, proposes best-of-three final, rotation of venue
After a draw in the fourth Test against Australia in March in Ahmedabad confirmed India's qualification for the World Test Championship final, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was rightly asked how the team will handle the short turnaround time in formats between the end of IPL, a T20 event and the start of the WTC final against Australia at the Oval.
Rohit's response was almost dismissive.
"Whatever time we find after the IPL, we will try and get ready for the WTC final. Around 21st May (end of IPL league phase), there will be six teams that will be out of the play-offs. Whichever players are available, we will try and find time to get them to the UK," he had said.
However, after India's crushing 209-run loss to Australia at the Oval, the India skipper suddenly felt the need for more preparation time.
"Ideally, yes, event like this, final like this, you need a lot of time to prepare yourself and that is what we did the last time when we were here in England. We had good 25-30 days to prepare ourselves. And you saw the result. We were 2-1 up until that game (5th Test, Old Trafford) got called off," Rohit told the media on Sunday.
The reason, he 'revealingly' said, the five-day game needs more discipline.
1/10:Australia claim maiden World Test Championship title
AFP
2/10:Maiden WTC title
<p>India's poor show in ICC events continued as Australia grabbed their maiden World Test Championship title with a crushing 209-run victory. <br /></p>Getty Images
3/10:Another flop show
<p>Chasing a record 444 on the final day, India resumed at 164/3 on Day 5 but were bowled out for 234 in the first session. <br /></p>Getty Images
4/10:The wait continues
<p>This is now India's second defeat in successive WTC finals after losing to New Zealand in 2021 in the inaugural edition.<br /></p>AFP
5/10:India all out in first session on Day 5
<p>Pacer Scott Boland sparked a dramatic collapse as India lost the remaining seven wickets for 70 runs inside 24 overs before lunch.<br /></p>AP
6/10:The Boland damage
<p>Scott Boland did the initial damage with 2 wickets in an over, including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli (49). <br /></p>AFP
7/10:The twin-blow
<p>In the seventh over of the day, Kohli edged fast bowler Boland to a great catch at second slip by Steve Smith. Boland then got Ravindra Jadeja (0) a couple of balls later.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:The tail wrap up
<p>The highest wicket-taker for Australia in the second innings, Nathan Lyon (4/41) then mopped up the tail in a jiffy. <br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:The Head, Smith tons
<p>Australia were in charge of the Final from Day 1 with both player-of-the-match Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) firing tons in the total of 469.</p>Getty Images
10/10:The 173-run lead
<p>India were then bowled out for 296 in their first essay, giving away huge 173-run lead to Pat Cummins and co. <br /></p>AFP"We would want to have good time in hand to prepare, give enough rest to the bowlers. And then Test cricket obviously requires a lot of discipline, hitting that area consistently and challenging the batsmen - but again you know Shami, Siraj, Umesh they all are experienced. But in an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer if we have 20, 25 days to prepare for a game like this," said Rohit.
What he wasn't asked though was why this need for preparation was felt only now despite him and the team having full knowledge of the calendar beforehand.
Head coach Rahul Dravid was more realistic about things and refused to use India's lack of Test-match preparation as an excuse for the loss. "The schedules are so tight, and you need to be better prepared due to the packed schedule. No complaints, I want to congratulate Australia for the cricket they have played. No excuses, no complaints."
After India had lost the 2021 WTC final to New Zealand in Southampton, the then captain-coach duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri had said the WTC final should be a best-of-three affair.
It was a case of sour grapes, almost a justification to play poorly and yet have a chance of coming back. On Sunday, skipper Rohit chose to sing the same tune.
"I would prefer a best-of-three final for the World Test Championship as it would be ideal to compete over three Tests after all the hard work, over two years, in reaching the final," Rohit said, while citing the paucity of a decent window to do it.
The 36-year-old also questioned why England should host the event every time when he was asked about the problem of WTC following the IPL.
"June is not the only month we should play the finals. It can be played any time of the year. And anywhere in the world, not just in England."
