Debutants delivering like no other.
Bidipto Datta
Cricket Text Commentator at Sportskeeda || Sports | Youth Affairs | Technology | India i.e., Bharat
Barring #RajatPatidar, whom we rate highly, all the other debutants in the recently concluded #Test series caught the eye!
Be it #SarfarazKhan's ramp over the in-field to #MarkWood for four at third man or his pull for six over deep backward-square against the same bowler. Be it #DhruvJurel's adaptability to Test cricket as a batter and his assuredness behind the stumps with gloves on. Be it #AkashDeep's ability to land it on the seam consistently and make the ball talk off the good length. Or be it #DevduttPadikkal's punch off the back foot. All of these were impressive.
Yes, these batters weren't up against #Broad, #Finn, #Bresnan and #Anderson from 2012. They certainly weren't up against #Swann and #Monty! But, they made their presence felt and showed to everyone that they mean business.
Quite similarly, the bowling debutant didn't have #Cook and #Trott and #Pietersen and #Bell to bowl to, but it doesn't matter. Living in the present, the opening spell of his in #Ranchi was superb!
It's also good to know that skipper #RohitSharma backs Patidar. He might not have scored a fifty in Tests yet, but he is a mighty fine player with bat in hand. He makes stroke-play look effortless when he gets going but does not require doing outrageous things for that. So, it indeed makes a strong case for backing him.
And the other thing to admire is the fact that they were replacing names like #Kohli, #Rahul, #Shami and #Pant! Even #Jadeja, #Bumrah, #Siraj and #Ashwin were unavailable at times but they weren't missed. Not to forget, the selectors and the team management did not think of bringing experienced names like #Pujara, #Rahane and #UmeshYadav back.
So, these new players had to fill in for some really big boots. They did that in the series with a lot of conviction!
If you ask us though, the best performance by these debutants happen to come in the 4th Test in Ranchi again. And that is Dhruv's 77-ball unbeaten 39 in the 2nd innings.
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The reason why we have it as out best performance is the fact that he had to help win #India the match when the pressure was on, big time! He scored a 90 in just the 1st innings when very few expected him to but when he walked out to bat in the 2nd essay, there was a sudden weight of expectation around him, all of a sudden. He overcame that challenge too.
We're sure that no one will deny the fact that winning at home and winning away are two different things. A 4-1 score-line at home takes something extraordinary to produce away. Debutants firing in all cylinders in home conditions is never the same when they travel to play in away conditions. It's needless to say that performing overseas is the bigger challenge.
Having said that, these newcomers have shown that they want to belong here. They are ready to take up opportunities as and when they come. If if means taking a bowler of the experience and pedigree of Anderson on, so be it. The attitude is there for Test match cricket.
And herein lies the excitement! India have a pool of new players waiting to cash in and make the world take note of their game in whites.
#INDvENG