Catch them young is true for all sports in general and cricket in particular. Virat Kohli’s vision, the coach’s Anil Kumble’s proper grooming and selectors sensible selection has been responsible for Team India’s turnaround. One or two changes were made in the Indian team in all the five test matches played against England. This step paved way for rotational policy and kept the reserves on the toes all the time. It gave the team the much needed balance. The change of wicket keeper through the mid-way of the series did not affect confidence of the skipper. An old timer Parthiv Patel was inducted into the team for providing stability to the opening slot. Both Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav picked from Ranji level made their presence felt to make a complete team against a highly professional side. In the end the bench strength proved handy to face the stiffer challenges even after losing the toss or losing top batsmen early in the chase for first innings lead. Virat’s youngistan came good at crucial juncture and this is history now.
C.K. Ramanathan
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
