Fantasy cricket has taken the world by storm. The chance to apply knowledge and potentially win money is an inviting prospect for cricket fans who have developed an impassioned love for the game over the years.
However, with this could come some risks. The prospect of winning money can result in players taking shortcuts to try to win some quick money. Maybe if you trust your instinct or gut feel well enough, you can win some easy cash along the way.
This is a risky approach, and one that is unlikely to bring success. Winning in fantasy cricket takes effort and strategy, and there is quite a bit of responsibility that you need to display to win regularly . In this article, we will look at three key ways to play fantasy cricket responsibly.
3 ways to play fantasy cricket responsibly
1. Pick and choose your matches wisely
Daily fantasy cricket with various matches and hundreds of contests can make it tempting to try your hand in as many matches as you can. After all, the more matches you try your luck in, the greater your chances of winning, right?
Not quite.
If you spread yourself too thin, you run the risk of not gaining the knowledge you need to win in fantasy cricket. You should only pick selected matches you are most confident in, focusing on gathering all the information you need to help you put together a strong team.
Also, given how much cricket is played around the world, it is very difficult to play fantasy cricket successfully in all of them. So, avoid the temptation to try your hand in fantasy cricket by just going off scorecards, but rather, select the matches you watch closely and feel confident in how the patterns and tactics transpire.
2. Do your research
Image credit: J. Kelly Brito, Unsplash.com
Speaking of information, it is vital you do your research before investing in fantasy cricket. Sure, winning is never 100% guaranteed, but you give yourself a much greater chance by doing your homework.
Research is arguably the most important element of fantasy cricket. Yes, there is an element of gut instinct in it as well, but you need to be guided to ensure you at least pick a strong core team.
Some may think that researching is too time consuming, but it’s more than worth the time if you want to have any realistic hope of winning. Some of the information you should collect includes:
Head-to-head player records, i.e. how does a player perform against a certain team or bowler/batter?
Pitch report and conditions, i.e. how does a pitch at a certain ground usually perform? What are the average scores like?
Possible XIs, i.e. who is certain to play and who isn’t
How teams and players perform batting first vs batting second
Recent form
As you can see, there is quite a bit to be across. However, as cricket fans, it is our passion for numbers and statistics that drive us, so this shouldn’t be a problem even in daily fantasy cricket. Resources such as CricBlog’s Match Previews can help you in the process of creating your teams.
3. Don’t invest all your money in one match
A good tip is to invest your deposit equally across a number of different matches. This will require you to attain knowledge for more matches as per point two, but it is worth it in increasing your chances of winning.
For example, if you have Rs.10,000, divide it in 10 parts i.e Rs.1000 in every match. This way you can potentially earn more in the longer run in fantasy cricket.
While you can use your gut feel from time to time when selecting a fantasy team, it pays to spend time researching key information and implementing strategy so you are not relying on luck alone. By putting the above three tips into practice, you can increase your chances of winning in fantasy cricket, which makes for a more worthwhile experience.
Cricket News: Record WBBL ratings in another huge win for women’s sport | WBBL07 Final draws in record ratings as Scorchers beat Strikers
In another huge step forward for women’s sport, Saturday’s WBBL 07 Final between Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers drew the highest ratings in WBBL history with 535,000 viewers tuning in across Foxtel and Channel 7.
This eclipsed the previous record of 506,000 for the WBBL 04 Final. However, the key difference that day is that the match was played just before a men’s Test.
Also, the Scorchers won their first ever title in front of the largest WBBL standalone crowd of 15,511, with a great atmosphere at Optus Stadium felt through TV screens and smart devices. This previous best was 10,069 for a Semi Final between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder also at Optus Stadium four years ago.
It wasn’t just the Final that broke records. The season as a whole was a huge success, with WBBL 07 officially the most watched season ever, with a cumulative average TV audience of 5.36 million viewers.
This is up 15% on last season, with factors such as the increased quality and all 59 matches broadcast key to the result.
Also, fans are responding on streaming platforms, with Foxtel Group’s data indicating a 158% positive shift year-on-year across Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go and Kayo.
Such a result will only see calls grow louder for a women’s IPL. The talent and demand is there, and now is the time for the BCCI to act.
WBBL and women's cricket in general going from strength to strength. Time for a women's IPL now. #WBBLFinal#WBBL
It was a historic evening in more ways than one. Perth Scorchers won their first ever WBBL Title thanks to a strong all-round display.
Marizanne Kapp, who was reportedly ill all week, produced a superb all-round display of 31* and 1/25 to win player of the match. Skipper and legend Sophie Devine led well in the field, supported brilliantly by Beth Mooney who further justified her number one world ranking with the most runs in the tournament (547).
Despite falling short with the Strikers, Amanda-Jade Wellington enjoyed a fantastic season with 23 scalps – the most of any bowler in WBBL 07 and the equal-fourth most in any season.
Cricket News: 4 players PBKS should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Punjab Kings should retain ahead of IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Punjab Kings is one of those teams who promise a lot before every season, but unfortunately fail to deliver. They have had a number of quality players, but their performance hasn’t been up to the mark on most occasions. The Mega Auction before IPL 2022 is a great chance for them to assemble a strong squad and win the title for the first time in IPL 2022.
The Punjab Kings already have a few excellent players and they should retain them before going into the Mega Auction. Let’s take a look at the four players that the Punjab Kings should retain for IPL 2022.
4 players PBKS should retain before IPL 2022 Mega Auction
1. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal without any doubts should be the first player to be retained by the Punjab Kings, especially considering KL Rahul will be parting ways with the franchise.
Mayank is one of the best openers in the tournament. He is super aggressive, exploits the powerplay well putting the opposition under pressure early. He has already shown what he is capable of and has played some phenomenal knocks for the Punjab Kings in the past.
He scored 441 runs in 12 games in IPL 2021 at an average of 40.09 and strike rate of 140.44, which shows that he has scored consistently and at a good strike rate as well. Mayank has also led the franchise on a few occasions in the absence of KL Rahul, so he can be the captain as well if they choose.
2. Aiden Markram
4 players PBKS should retain for IPL 2022: Aiden Markram
Punjab Kings should retain Aiden Markram for IPL 2022. The South African is an excellent batter and showed what he is capable of in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. He batted at number 4 for South Africa and scored 162 runs in five innings at an average of 54 and strike rate of 145.94.
Markam plays spin really well, can attack the pacers and knows how to play according to the situation, which makes him an excellent choice for batting at number 4 – often a difficult position in T20s.
3. Ravi Bishnoi
4 players PBKS should retain for IPL 2022: Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi has already shown a lot of potential in his short IPL career. He caught the eyes of many fans and experts after the 2020 ICC U-19 World Cup where he ended up as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets.
He is a genuine wicket-taker and unlike traditional wrist spinners, he bowls fast leg-spin, which is the Meta right now in T20 cricket making him very valuable. Bishnoi picked 12 wickets in nine games in IPL 2021 at an economy of just 6.38. He can be a valuable asset for the Punjab Kings if groomed properly. He will be retained at a cheaper price as he has still uncapped, which is another good reason to retain him.
4. Arshdeep Singh
4 players PBKS should retain for IPL 2022: Arshdeep Singh.
Having a good Indian pace bowler in your squad is essential, and Arshdeep Singh is one such pacer in the PBKS squad. The tall left-arm pacer from Punjab is fast, can bowl in the powerplay and in the death overs as well.
Arshdeep picked up 18 wickets in 12 games in IPL 2021 at an economy of 8.27, which is impressive as he bowled two of his four overs at the death in each match. He too is an uncapped player so it will be a wise decision to retain him as chances of him going for a higher price in the auction is almost certain, and he adds a lot of value to the Punjab squad being a good Indian fast bowler with a lot of potential.
Even if KL Rahul is no longer at the franchise, Punjab Kings can still build a solid team around these four players.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Cricket News: 4 players KKR should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Kolkata Knight Riders should retain before IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Kolkata Knight Riders did the almost impossible in IPL 2021, coming back from seventh place after phase one to then reach the playoffs. Not only that, Eoin Morgan’s men ended up reaching the Final, and despite falling short against CSK, it was a terrific comeback by the men in purple.
Kolkata has been a consistent team over the years. They’ve won the title twice (2012 and 2014) and 2021 was their third time in the finals. KKR had a very young squad in IPL 2021 and reaching the showpiece match shows the potential of the players. As the Mega Auction is nearing before IPL 2022, KKR too will have the option to retain up to four players before the auction. They have a good bunch of players, so it will be a little tricky to decide whom to retain.
Here are four players that we think KKR should retain for IPL 2022.
4 players KKR should retain before IPL 2022 Mega Auction
1. Andre Russell
Andre Russell is an elite all-rounder in T20 cricket – one who can win games with either bat or ball. We all know how destructive he can be with the bat when on song, and to go with that, he adds up to his value with his bowling.
Russell has the highest strike rate in the IPL history – a ridiculous 178.57 in 70 innings. He wasn’t at his best in IPL 2021, but still scored 183 runs in nine innings at an average of 26.14 and strike rate of 152.50.
Russell had fitness issues as well this season. When fully fit he can change the course of the game in just a few deliveries as we saw in 2019. He scored 510 runs in 13 innings in that season at a whopping strike of 204.81 and average of 56.66, with 52 sixes! There shouldn’t be any doubts about KKR retaining Russell.
2. Shubman Gill
4 players KKR should retain for IPL 2022: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill should be KKR’s second retained player for IPL 2022. Gill is young, very talented, and has a lot of potential. KKR can groom him as a leader as well moving forward.
Gill was the highest run-scorer for KKR in IPL 2021. He scored 478 runs in 17 games at an average of 28.11 and strike rate of 118.90. He needs to improve his strike rate, but he is capable of producing the goods if handled properly.
Shubman Gill is the second player KKR should retain before the mega auction for IPL 2022, as he will give KKR a cushion of a solid Indian opening batsman.
3. Venkatesh Iyer
4 players KKR should retain for IPL 2022: Venkatesh Iyer.
Venkatesh Iyer announced himself to the cricket fraternity in IPL 2021. KKR included him in the eleven out of nowhere in the second phase and he immediately set the stage on fire. Opening the innings, the southpaw played some very crucial knocks for KKR, and rolled his arm over in a few games as well.
He scored 370 runs in 10 matches at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47. Iyer played fearlessly in the powerplay giving KKR a quick start with the bat. Not many could have predicted this, but Venkatesh Iyer made a big impact in a very short time and KKR should retain him ahead of IPL 2022.
4. Sunil Narine
Cricket News: 4 players KKR should retain for IPL 2022: Sunil Narine.
Sunil Narine found his mojo in IPL 2021 after a couple ordinary seasons in 2019 and 2020. He picked 16 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.44, playing a key role in KKR reaching the 2021 Final. Narine was the trump card for KKR in the bowling department as Eoin Morgan trusted him to bowl the difficult overs, including at the death.
The Caribbean mystery spinner picked wickets and broke partnerships whenever his team and captain asked him to. Despite his remodeled action, Narine is one of the best spinners in T20 cricket at the moment. He has been exceptional in the IPL as well.
Narine, as well know, is an excellent pinch hitter and can break the momentum of the game if he plays just for an over. He isn’t a slogger and plays smartly, knowing which bowler to attack.
The perfect example of this is the eliminator of IPL 2021. Narine scored 26 runs off 15 balls including three sixes against Dan Christian. He came in when KKR looked in trouble chasing a small but tricky total and took the game out of RCB’s reach.
Sunil Narine brings a lot of value to a T20 side with his exceptional bowling and pinch-hitting skills and KKR should retain him without any second thoughts.
So, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Sunil Narine should be the four players KKR should retain before going into the IPL 2022 Mega Auction.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Cricket News: 4 players MI should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Mumbai Indians should look to retain in IPL 2022 Mega Auction
All the teams will be going through all the permutations and combinations as the IPL 2022 Mega Auction is nearing. Teams have to retain four players for IPL 2022 and there won’t be any Right to Match (RTM) cards this time.
5-time champions, Mumbai Indians will be the most affected team as they have a very balanced squad, probably the best in the league. They will have to let go of many good players before the auction, despite their disappointing season.
So without hampering the balance of the squad too much, which four players should MI retain before the mega auction?
Players MI should keep before IPL 2022 Mega Auction
1. Rohit Sharma
Skipper Rohit Sharma without any doubt will be the first player MI will retain. Rohit has been phenomenal for Mumbai as a batter and captain, winning five titles under his leadership. He won the title after being appointed as the captain in mid-season in 2013 after Ricky Ponting stepped down as the captain, and he has not looked back.
Rohit has scored the third-most number of runs in IPL history, with 5,611 runs in 208 innings at an average of 31.17 at a strike-rate of 130.39. He scored 381 runs in 13 games at an average of 29.30 striking at 127.42 in IPL 2021. Rohit is one of the best openers in the world at the moment and will be the first retained player by the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2022.
2. Jasprit Bumrah
4 players MI should retain for IPL 2022: Jasprit Bumrah has been a key part of MI for years now.
Jasprit Bumrah, right now, is amongst the top all format pace bowlers in the world. He is accurate, bowls fast and is a genuine wicket-taker. Bumrah has picked 130 wickets in 106 games at an economy of 7.41, with an average of 23.03 and strike rate of 18.63.
In IPL 2021, he picked 21 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 7.45, shining bright in a disappointing campaign for MI. His death bowling is arguably the best in the tournament and there is no second thoughts about Mumbai retaining him.
3. Kieron Pollard
Cricket News: 4 players MI should retain for IPL 2022: Kieron Pollard has produced on the big stage
Kieron Pollard is one of the best players of T20 cricket and has been the big match player for Mumbai Indians. He has always performed when Mumbai needed him, with memorable performances in IPL finals and knockouts.
He has scored 3,268 runs in 160 matches at an average of 29.98 and strike rate of 149.77. Pollard scored 245 runs in 13 innings in IPL 2021, averaging 30.62 at a strike-rate of 148.48.
The Caribbean star is one of the best lower-order batters in the shortest format and has won games single-handedly from impossible looking situations. Pollard has been one of the core members of the Mumbai Indians squad and he should be the one and only overseas player Mumbai will retain for IPL 2022.
4. Ishan Kishan
Cricket News: 4 players MI should retain for IPL 2022: Ishan Kishan
Mumbai should retain Ishan Kishan over Suryakumar Yadav, and it will be a very tough call for the MI management to pick one between Hardik Pandya and Ishan.
But, Ishan should get the edge as Hardik is having some serious fitness issues at the moment and his batting form hasn’t been up to the mark as well. Kishan is an Indian wicket-keeper batsman and opens as well so losing Quinton de Kock won’t hurt Mumbai if that eventuates.
Kishan scored 241 runs in 10 games at an average of 26.77 and strike rate of 133.88 in IPL 2021. The southpaw is a very aggressive batter and can take the game away from the opposition in a matter of a few overs. He showed how destructive he can be in the last game against SRH, scoring 84 runs in just 32 deliveries.
Mumbai can groom Ishan as their future captain as well so they should retain him for IPL 2022.
These were the four players I think Mumbai should retain before the mega auction for IPL 2022. All the players are experienced and form a solid core for the 5-time champions going forward.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Cricket News: South Africa home season under a cloud due to new COVID-19 variant | Concerns growing around COVID-19 variant in South Africa
COVID-19 cases have risen three-fold in South Africa this week, with a new variant identified in the country. As a result, South Africa’s international home season, which begins today with an ODI against The Netherlands, is under a bit of a cloud as scientists meet with The World Health Organisation (WHO) this week.
According to ESPNCricinfo correspondent Firdose Moonda, The Netherlands’ management team will meet with Cricket South Africa (CSA) officials today to discuss the status of their ODI series. The Dutch are in South Africa currently for a three-match ODI series as part of the ODI Super League, but there will be discussions around whether the second and third ODIs will go ahead as planned.
Impacted cricket season due to COVID-19 will significantly hurt Cricket South Africa
South Africa is set for a bumper season, headlined by India’s visit for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is from mid-December. It is a highly anticipated series given South Africa’s quality at home and India’s improvement away from home over the past decade. Also, the West Indies women’s team is scheduled to tour the country ahead of next year’s Women’s ODI World Cup.
An affected season will significantly impact CSA financially, as was the case in a tough 2020/21 season. England cut their tour short due to COVID-19, and Australia cancelled their Test tour at the 11th hour leaving Graeme Smith and co. frustrated and disappointed.
Graeme Smith and CSA were left frustrated at Australia’s decision to withdraw from South Africa Test tour earlier in 2021.
For now, it is a bit of a waiting game to see what impact this variant has on the population. Depending on how things transpire, we could see a season of tight bubbles and matches behind closed doors in South Africa.
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022 | A look at 3 players Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a consistent side in the IPL. They won the title in 2016 and were the runners-up in 2018 but last season was a nightmare for them as they finished at the bottom of the points table.
They won only three games out of 14 and their performance in that season was below average. They failed to play as a unit and had a big off-field controversy as well when David Warner was sacked from the captaincy mid-season and was dropped from the playing eleven as well.
With the mega auction next month, SRH will look to come back in style by building a strong squad for IPL 2022 in the mega auction. And just like all the other teams, they too will have the option of retaining four players before the auction. SRH have quite a few quality players in their squad and it may be a little tricky for them in selecting the four players.
Here are the three players we think SRH should retain for IPL 2022.
Rashid Khan is arguably the most popular player in franchise cricket leagues around the globe. He is the superstar of the shortest format. Rashid is arguably the best spinner in T20s, as he is a genuine wicket-taker and has shown his class in every corner of the world and in every T20 league he has played.
Rashid has been an excellent performer for SRH over the years in the IPL. He picked 18 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.69 in IPL 2021, and he should be a key player for SRH going forward.
The Afghan leggie bowls in all the phases of the game. He’s the go to bowler for SRH when they need a wicket and more often than not, he delivers. Rashid Khan is a champion bowler and the Sunrisers Hyderabad shouldn’t even think twice before retaining him for IPL 2022. He is more than handy with the bat as well and can tonk the ball big.
2. Kane Williamson
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022: Kane Williamson.
Kane Williamson is among the top batters at the moment. He is very consistent with the bat and SRH should retain him for IPL 2022.
Williamson won the Orange Cap in 2018, leading the side to an appearance in the Final. In IPL 2021, Williamson scored 266 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.33 and strike rate of 113.19. The strike rate was on the slower side, but he is a quality player and now with David Warner most probably out, Kane should open for SRH which the best position for him to bat in T20s.
Williamson has done well as the skipper of SRH. Last season was bad all-round by SRH, but he is a fine captain and has done well leading the Black Caps. SRH should retain him as he’s one of the top batters of the tournament and will lead the side as well.
3. Abdul Samad
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022: Abdul Samad
Abdul Samad is a very promising young player in SRH. The lower-order batter from Jammu & Kashmir is known for his hard hitting in the domestic circuit. Samad has shown a little glimpse of his hitting ability in the IPL as well and can be a great prospect for SRH if groomed properly.
He has scored 222 runs in 23 matches in the IPL at an average of 15.85 and strike rate of 146.05. Samad comes to bat very low for SRH and hence hasn’t faced a lot of deliveries. His strike rate in IPL 2020 after 12 games was 170.76 at an average of 22.20.
Till now he hasn’t performed up to his true potential, but SRH have not used him properly. He is very promising and can be the perfect finisher for SRH. He is uncapped as well so retaining him will be very cheaper for SRH, which is another positive.
Other than these three, SRH have quite a few players who they can retain like the young Umran Malik who bowls consistently at 150 kph or someone like Jason Holder. But, they could buy them back at a cheaper price at the auction. So, Rashid Khan, Kane Williamson, and Abdul Samad are the players that we think Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain for IPL 2022.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Cricket News: Pat Cummins unveiled as Australia’s 47th Test captain | Pat Cummins named as Australia Test captain
Pat Cummins, the world’s number one ranked Test bowler, has officially been named Australia’s new Test captain. The pace bowler will take over from Tim Paine, who resigned from the role last week, with former captain Steve Smith named as his deputy.
Cummins has been plying his trade as vice captain of the Test side under Paine’s leadership. The decision to make Cummins captain is a historic one, as it is the first time that a pace bowler is named as full-time skipper in Australian men’s Test history. Also, Cummins is the first bowler overall to captain the men’s Test side since the late, great Richie Benaud.
Cummins will lead Australia in the upcoming Ashes as well as the big subcontinent tours next year, including India. While there is a risk associated with naming a lead pace bowler as captain, those within Australian circles know the value of Cummins both as a cricketer and person.
Pat Cummins, in a statement, said that he is honoured to be the captain. While it is unexpected, it is a role he is looking forward to ahead of some huge Tests.
“I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer,” Cummins said.
“I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years.
“With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group.
“This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to.”
“Pleased to return to the leadership” – Steve Smith
After a break of nearly four years since the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town, star batsman Steve Smith is officially back as part of the leadership group. Smith, who will be key to Australia’s Ashes and Asia campaigns, has been named as vice captain.
“I am pleased to return to the leadership of the team and look forward to helping and assisting Pat in any way I can,” Smith said in a statement.
“Pat and I have played together for a long time, so we know our respective styles well.We are also great friends, as is the whole group. As a team, we want to play good, positive cricket and also really enjoy each other’s company.
“There are exciting times ahead as we focus on the Ashes and beyond.”
The first Test against England starts on December 8 at the Gabba.
Cricket News: Tim Paine takes indefinite break from all forms of cricket | Wicket-keeper Tim Paine out of first Test at least after taking break
Australian keeper-batsman Tim Paine is out of the first Ashes Test at least after deciding to take an indefinite mental health break from all forms of cricket.
After resigning from the captaincy last week due to a sexting scandal, Paine said he would still make himself available for the Australian side as a player. Playing for Tasmania’s second XI, he looked in good form with the gloves, snapping up six catches in the first innings. However, he clearly struggled with the bat, and will now take a break from the game after what has been a whirlwind week.
Cricket Tasmania released a statement on Friday morning announcing Paine’s decision to take a break. More importantly, Paine will receive the support he needs.
“Following discussions over the last 24 hours, Tim Paine has advised Cricket Tasmania that he will be taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future,” the statement read.
“Tim’s decision makes him unavailable for selection for today’s Marsh One-Day Cup match against Western Australia. His place in the squad will be taken by Charlie Wakim.
“Cricket Tasmania will continue to support Tim and his family both professionally and personally over the summer.”
Tim Paine to miss at least the first Ashes Test
James Henderson, Paine’s manager, tweeted that Paine is to take an “indefinite mental health break”, and that he is “extremely concerned for his and (wife) Bonnie’s well-being”.
Confirming that @tdpaine36 is stepping away from cricket for an indefinite mental health break. We are extremely concerned for his and Bonnie’s well-being and will be making no further comment at this time.
Up until last Friday, Paine was captain of the side and was gearing up to lead the side in their quest to retain the Ashes on home soil. However, a bombshell emerged as a sexting scandal from 2017 surfaced publicly, resulting in him resigning from the captaincy just weeks out from the big series.
Now, it is unclear whether Paine will don the baggy green ever again. The keeper-batsman will miss at least the first Test, but given the mental toll of the past seven days and how close each Test match is, one has to wonder whether there is any realistic chance of Paine featuring in the series at all.
This opens the door for the likes of Alex Carey and Josh Inglis, who are the frontrunners for the Australian keeper-batsman position. Both average in the mid-30s in First Class cricket, but Inglis could be slightly ahead in the pecking order due to better recent form.
From the depths of 0-8 to 2-1 x3 – the stats behind India’s Test rise | A look at India’s Test rise from 2011 through to 2021
“I strongly want to see the Indian team dominate for at least five or six years. We certainly have the talent. We certainly have the ability. All that it will take is how you manage that and keep them together.’’
This is what Virat Kohli said back in 2015 when he succeeded MS Dhoni as Test captain.
Before I delve into this statement, let me turn the clock back to 2011/12. Well, as soon as you read 2011/12, I’m pretty sure the horrors of 0-8 in England and Australia would have come storming back in your mind.
Well, let me tell you about how I felt at the time.
July 21, 2011. The first morning of the much-anticipated Test series between the No.1 ranked India and a red-hot English side, fresh from a historic 3-1 Ashes triumph Down Under. Leading into the series, I still remember former England seamer Darren Gough predicting a 4-0 victory for the home team.
When I first heard that, I was like; “Come on Goughy! Didn’t you see how India performed in South Africa last winter?”
Well, Goughy was right. India got absolutely hammered in England and seeds for that were sewed on the very first morning when Zaheer Khan pulled his hamstring and was ruled out of the entire series.
By the time the second season started, MS Dhoni had removed his keeping pads and was marking his bowling run-up. That pretty much summed up our fast bowling reserves at the time, didn’t it?
Or was it when the team-management called up RP Singh, who was vacationing in the US at the time, to play in the remaining Tests?
Either way, it was pretty clear at the time that our fast bowling stocks were lower than the water table of a desert.
“Okay, at least we have our famed batting to ensure that we draw a few matches” I thought.
Batting future looked bright, but pace bowling remained a worry
Little did I realise that the batting unit had crossed its sell-by date and it was truly evident over the course of the eight Tests in England and Australia (Dravid being a notable exception in England)
However, I was still not concerned about our batting future. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, I still felt that we’ll be back to our best in that facet of the game when the golden generation retires.
It was our bowling – especially fast bowling – that concerned me (and I am sure, every Indian fan) the most.
“How the hell are we going to take 20 wickets overseas after Zak (Zaheer Khan)?” The mere thought of Team India post Zaheer used to scare the hell out of me.
And, it was quite evident during the 2013/14 overseas cycle where our batters were pretty decent (barring last three Tests in England), but bowlers constantly squandered opportunities.
Yes, Ishant Sharma was there, and we did have the talent in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. But, then, talent has never been an issue in Indian cricket.
Throughout the 2000s and even before that, Indian cricket had enough promising fast bowlers in their system. But, they were never nurtured. They started off as fast bowlers but due to a combination of injuries and poor management, ended up becoming medium pacers before slowly disappearing into oblivion.
How a change in focus drove India’s Test rise overseas
Nine years later, the Indian team landed in Australia to play a four-match Test series without their senior most bowler in Ishant Sharma.
To make matters worse, Mohammed Shami had his arm broken by a Pat Cummins bouncer in a horrible first Test for India, and was ruled out for the remaining Tests.
It didn’t stop there. Umesh Yadav pulled up during his follow through in the second Test and was consigned to the bench. Jasprit Bumrah got injured in the next Test and was ruled out of the decider at the Gabba.
India’s fast bowling-unit at the Gabba consisted of Mohammed Siraj (2 Tests), T Natarajan (debut), Shardul Thakur (1 Test) and an injured Navdeep Saini (1 Test). They’d taken a combined 13 wickets and were up against one of the greatest fast bowling attacks of the modern-era: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
A mismatch of epic proportions, right? Of course it was. But not for one moment did it look like that over the course of the next five days as the rookies outbowled their famed counterparts to lead India to a historic series win.
More than the final result and the wickets they took. It was the body language of Siraj, Shardul and Natarajan that stood out.
In the past, there are several examples of inexperienced Indian seamers who used to get overwhelmed bowling in overseas conditions. But these group of men made it look like they have been playing top-level cricket for decades.
India’s Test rise: Siraj and Rishabh Pant celebrating their great win in Australia in 2020/21
So, what changed from 2011 to 2021?
Well, there are a bunch of reasons apart from the most obvious ones such as unreal improvement in infrastructure right from the grassroots, and the increased exposure of the fringe players to overseas conditions via A tours.
Firstly, let’s go back to the statement Virat made in 2015, I mentioned at the beginning of this piece.
India were ranked number 7 in the world when Virat took over the leadership duties from Dhoni during the 2014/15 Australian tour. In that series, our fast bowling got marmilized to the hilt by the likes of David Warner and a certain Steven Smith, who was at the peak of his powers [Well, he still is].
In his first home series against South Africa, India dished out rank-turners and pumped the then No.1 ranked side 3-0. But, that wasn’t a new thing, right? Beating a non-Asian team on spin-friendly tracks on home soil is hardly a feat to be proud of. It’s normal service.
But, Virat knew that if India were to become an all-conditions Test team, they needed to take 20 wickets and that wasn’t possible without a battery of pacers.
So, when the 2016/17 home season arrived, we saw India dish out flat tracks to the likes of New Zealand and England, and still won comprehensively. Umesh Yadav feasted on the opposition batters with reverse-swing while Ishant Sharma performed the role of a workhorse. Ashwin and Jadeja did their thing despite lack of substantial assistance from the surfaces.
India pulverized every opposition during their extended home season and while they got challenged by Australia, they still managed to win the four-match rubber 2-1. They were crowned the No.1 ranked team in the world during the home season, but stiffer challenges awaited the team as tours of South Africa, England and Australia loomed.
And, thus started the golden phase of Indian seam bowling.
How Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun helped drive a culture of fast bowling
India’s Test rise: Celebrating the 2-1 series win in Australia in 2018/19
One of the biggest legacy of Virat the Test captain is the fact that he instilled a fitness culture in the set-up, which ultimately benefited the fast bowlers. Of course, the fact that he was always willing to play one batter less for a bowler, helped immensely.
In all this, let us not forget the role that former bowling coach Bharat Arun and coach Shastri played. The success of the current Test team is built on its imperious fast bowling unit and the quality reserves it has on the bench – something that was on full display in Australia last winter. Arun is perhaps the hidden diamond in the crown of this Test team, who needs to be appreciated more than he is.
And, perhaps, the turning point in India’s fast bowling revolution came in South Africa in 2018 when Virat and Shastri took a punt on Jasprit Bumrah by handing him his maiden Test cap in Cape Town.
It was a decision that was met with a lot of apprehension, even from former cricketers like Michael Holding.
Well, over the course of the next three years, Bumrah proved it was a masterstroke for the ages as the Indian seam-bowling had its X-Factor it was desperately craving for decades. Also, the incarnation of Ishant 2.0 following his fruitful County stint and Mohammed Shami”s improved fitness ensured that India now had a seam-bowling trio to die for.
India went on to lose in South Africa (1-2) and in England (1-4) due to the inability of their batsmen to win key moments and dare I say, the struggles of their bowlers in dismissing the tail.
But, the signs were promising. The fast bowling unit dominated and sometimes outbowled their counterparts. It continued its stellar work in Australia and this time, they were supported by their batsmen. As a result, Virat became the first Asian captain to script a Test series win in Australia.
Performance of India in Tests since 2018
And, it’s the pacers who laid the cornerstone for that triumph, just like they did in Australia earlier this year and then in England last summer.
Performance of some of the leading seam bowling attacks since the start of 2018:
Team
Matches
Wickets
Average
S/R
England
46
540
26.07
54.6
India
37
415
23.50
47.1
New Zealand
25
369
24.75
54.5
South Africa
27
362
24.02
45.3
India’s Test rise: Great seam bowling average since start of 2018.
Under Virat, India remained the No.1 Test team for 42 consecutive months and their success wasn’t only a byproduct of their incredible home dominance but also brilliant performances overseas.
And, the tables below vindicate that point to the hilt.
Teams with best W/L ratio in Tests since Jan 2016:
Team
Matches
Won
Loss
Draw
W/L
India
60
37
14
9
2.64
NZ
43
24
12
8
2
Australia
49
24
18
7
1.33
SA
48
25
19
4
1.315
England
74
33
30
11
1.1
India’s Test rise: Best W/L ratio since 2016
In home conditions, India have built a fortress like no other. While they were always a dominant force at home, one significant change that took place under Virat was that the team didn’t contend with winning just one Test and playing for draws in the rest to eke out a series win.
India have been absolutely ruthless in their own backyard, crushing opposition to the hilt.
Since Virat took over the Test captaincy, India have dropped just two Tests – vs Australia in 2017 & vs England in 2021 – and their W/L ratio is a ridiculous 11.
Teams with best W/L ratio on home soil since January 2016:
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Draw
W/L
India
28
22
2
4
11
NZ
25
17
3
5
5.6
Australia
27
17
6
4
2.8
SA
29
19
8
2
2.3
England
39
21
12
6
1.75
India’s Test rise: India dominate at home.
As far as performance away from home during the said period is concerned, India have beaten West Indies (2-0, 2-0 in 2016, 19), Sri Lanka (3-0 in 2017), Australia (2-1 & 2-1 in 2018/19 and 2020/21) and are 2-1 up in England.
Teams with best W/L ratio overseas since January 2016
Team
Matches
Won
Loss
Draw
W/L
India
31
15
11
5
1.363
England
35
12
18
5
0.666
Australia
20
7
11
2
0.636
South Africa
19
6
11
2
0.545
Sri Lanka
30
7
13
10
0.538
India’s Test rise: India also excellent away from home
Yes, there have been set-backs like the 1-2 and 0-2 defeat in South Africa (2018) New Zealand (2020)) and the WTC final loss to the same opposition earlier this year.
But, just like this last summer where this team right the wrongs of 2018 in England, they will have another golden opportunity to further cement their legacy when they travel to South Africa next month.
A maiden series win in South Africa will make Virat Kohli the first Indian skipper to win a Test rubber in Australia, and the rainbow nation and it would be fitting if he achieves the feat in what will be his 100th Test at the Wanderers – the venue for the third Test of the series.
This is the greatest Indian Test team ever assembled on the face of earth, and a win in South Africa will further seal their legacy, if it hasn’t already!
