Sunil Joshi Advocates for Increased Domestic Matches for India's Test Batters

New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Sunil Joshi, a former Indian spinner and chief selector during the victorious 2-1 Test series in Australia for 2020/21, emphasizes the necessity for the current Test team batters to engage in more domestic cricket. He argues this involvement could significantly help them find their rhythm in scoring runs. India has recently faced a 3-1 Test series loss in Australia, with captain Rohit Sharma scoring merely 31 runs in five innings. Meanwhile, Kohli managed just 190 runs overall, despite having achieved an unbeaten century in India’s 295-run win in Perth.

The last appearance of Kohli in a Ranji Trophy match dates back to 2012, while Rohit has not participated in domestic red-ball cricket for nine years. The last first-class matches for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant were during the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season. Additionally, head coach Gautam Gambhir remarked after the series defeat in Sydney that players ought to make themselves available for domestic cricket if they are committed to red-ball formats.

“Our top-order batters are not participating in domestic cricket. Why is that the case? If I have an injury, that’s a valid reason. If I’ve been active in all three formats, then it’s understandable. If not, they should play domestic matches for four days. Scoring runs on those pitches makes it easier,” Joshi shared in an exclusive interview with IANS.

“However, when you suddenly step into a Test match after merely practicing for two sessions on a turning pitch, it’s unlikely you will score runs. I have consistently advocated for this since my time on the selection committee. Players like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble participated in domestic cricket even after joining the national team,” he stated.

The upcoming opportunity for Test players, who are not in the ODI squad, to play domestic cricket will arise when the sixth round of the Ranji Trophy resumes on January 23. Joshi reminisced about a time when he participated in a domestic match during a crucial Test series at home. “In 1999, we faced New Zealand in Mohali. Post that, I played for Board XI against Karnataka, the Ranji Trophy champions, and we won within three to four days. I then played the following Test match against New Zealand in Kanpur, and we won again. I fail to comprehend why players can’t engage in domestic matches,” he remarked.

The recent poor performance of India in Tests, including a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand at home and the 3-1 series loss to Australia, raises concerns about the team's strategy and approach towards the longer format. “We must evaluate our strengths. How are we approaching Test cricket? Are we focusing on spin-friendly, batting-friendly, or fast-bowling-friendly pitches? It’s common knowledge that pitches in Asia or the subcontinent tend to be slow with low turn,” he explained.

“So, why not include players who excel in domestic cricket? I would have preferred if Sarfaraz had played in Australia, considering he has performed well against New Zealand and England bowlers in India,” he added.

“The last time India lost a Test series at home was against South Africa 2-0 on a turning pitch in 2000. Have we not learned from that, as we’ve now lost a Test series 3-0 in 2024? There’s a fine line between bravery and foolishness. I say this because, in the first Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru, there was significant cloud cover,” he continued.

“Heavy rain persisted for three days, and when the covers were removed, we lost. There’s a straightforward reason for needing to bat under overcast conditions. Yet, we repeated our mistake by not putting New Zealand in. If playing on a spin-friendly pitch is the plan, why not put the opposition in it? Why do we get caught up in it?”

“The same situation unfolded when India lost to England in Hyderabad. If you wish to avoid a turning pitch, then don’t play on one. If you believe we have a solid fast-bowling lineup, then play on a pitch favorable to fast bowlers. It’s crucial to recognize that while our spinners take numerous wickets, our batters must also face less skilled spinners from the opposing team,” Joshi elaborated.

With the Australia tour concluded, India’s attention now turns to the white-ball series against England, consisting of five T20Is and three ODIs. While the revamped T20I team is anticipated to maintain its good form, the ODIs will serve as India’s final opportunity to refine their combinations ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place in Dubai during February-March.

All eyes will understandably be on the form of Rohit and Kohli, alongside Bumrah’s availability for the ODIs and the Champions Trophy. However, Joshi believes that changes in personnel for ODIs and Tests should be considered in the upcoming months after the Champions Trophy, especially since a transition in the red-ball setup is inevitable.

“I genuinely believe that some changes are necessary. If we aim to progress in both Test and ODI cricket with the upcoming (2027) World Cup in mind, fresh faces must be considered. That’s my perspective,” he concluded.