Sunil Gavaskar in his book Sunny Days documented how India’s tour of England in 1974 had descended into chaos immediately after the guests have been bowled out for 42 at Lord’s. From the controversy at Indian High Commissioner’s location to opener Sudhir Naik becoming accused of shoplifting and dressing-space discord it was ‘Blight in Blighty’.
After India returned residence with the West Indies coming for a 5-Test series the following winter, India faced a captaincy crisis. Ajit Wadekar was left out of the West Zone group, let alone India, immediately after the England tour. Gavaskar was nevertheless quite young and the BCCI had to fall back on Mansoor Ali Khan (Tiger) Pataudi to rejuvenate a beleaguered side.
India spectacularly bounced back from 2- down to make it 2-2 and while they lost the series to the Caribbeans 3-2, Pataudi had steadied the ship. The good captain under no circumstances pressed the panic button. Calmness, composure and tactical nous had been the hallmark of his captaincy. Ajinkya Rahane has performed the art of captaincy with such aplomb in Australia that Bishan Singh Bedi compared him with Pataudi. As far as leadership is concerned, that is the ultimate for a captain in Indian cricket. But we would come to that later.
During a private conversation with Raj Singh Dungarpur numerous moons ago, this correspondent had the privilege of listening to the former BCCI president, a connoisseur of the game, analysing cricket captaincy threadbare. “Captaincy is not about winning percentage. I tell you a story… After losing the first two Tests against the West Indies (1974-75), India were staring at defeat in the third Test in Calcutta also. West Indies were in a good position on the fifth day and Clive Lloyd was still at the crease. Chandra (Bhagwath Chandrasekhar) bowled a few expensive overs and a full house at Eden Gardens was in fact barracking Tiger for continuing with the leg-spinner. Tiger, though, refused to budge. Chandra then worked his magic, removing Lloyd, (Alvin) Kallicharran and (Bernard) Julien in quick succession. The Test match was won. That, my friend, is great captaincy,” Raj bhai had waxed lyrical.
Cut to Dharamsala in March 2017. The India-Australia Test series was tied at 1-1, as Dharamsala hosted the decider. Virat Kohli missed the game due to an injury and for the very first time, Rahane led India. His very first selection, in conjunction with then national group head coach Anil Kumble, was to hand Kuldeep Yadav his Test debut. It was an attacking selection. Even more adventurous was his selection to bring the debutant chinaman bowler into the attack, when David Warner and Steve Smith had been in the middle of a fine partnership through Australia’s very first innings. Yadav broke the partnership and went on to claim 4 wickets, tilting the balance in India’s favour in the course of action. The Test was won.
Coming into the second Test in Melbourne through the not too long ago concluded series in Australia, India’s circumstance was quite equivalent to the ‘Summer of 42’ in England 46 years ago. The ghost of 36 all out in Adelaide and devoid of their standard captain Kohli, who returned residence on paternity leave, the group could have been torn apart. They galvanised as an alternative beneath Rahane, who was calmness personified even at the time when Tim Paine’s extremely marginal run-out contact went in Australia’s favour.
What India pulled off in Australia with a severely depleted squad was nothing at all brief of a miracle. Rahane presided more than his country’s finest hour. He led from the front with a excellent hundred in Melbourne. He bowling alterations and field placements had been spot on. In all 3 Tests, he out-captained his Australian counterpart Paine.
“Personally, I am floored with the way Rahane conjured magic from broken bodies around him. The way he handled his meagre resources reminds me of Tiger Pataudi, who throughout his captaincy tenure was woefully short of a well-rounded unit but his leadership alone gave Indian cricket fresh legs. It was Pataudi who defined an “Indianness” in our cricket. He infused in us a thrilling sense of becoming collectively in this ride,” Bedi wrote in The Indian Express.
Mind, the likes of Bedi, Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and a vast majority of these who played beneath Pataudi, nevertheless allude to the good man as “their captain”. Such is the level of respect for a man who passed away in 2011. So Bedi comparing Rahane with his hero has been the ultimate accolade for the man who stood in for Kohli in Australia.
Should Rahane be created the permanent Test captain? The query has to be asked. Bedi backs the thought. The legendary former Australia captain Ian Chappell thinks that Rahane is a “born leader”. Expectedly, Kohli is back to captain India for the upcoming residence Test series against England and Indian cricket has moved on from the 1970s and 80s, when the group used to have numerous captaincy aspirants, and the incumbents often seeking more than their shoulder.
Rahane will not snap at Kohli’s heels. “We both are really close, really good friends. We just want to do well for our country. Let me tell you one thing, Virat is the captain now and I am the vice-captain, and whatever was happening before Virat left, it will just be the same. He is the captain and I am enjoying my role. (I am) happy to take a backseat now during the England series,” he stated at The Indian Express Idea Exchange.
All stated and performed, with a improved captain readily available, Kohli will now have small margin for error. His each and every move will be place beneath the microscope. Rahane has grown immensely in stature through the Australia series. Succession in the lengthy run could be inevitable.