India, the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winners, enter the Champions Trophy with a 3-0 series sweep over England. The batters impressed with their scintillating knocks, while the bowlers were at their proficient best to bamboozle the England batters. With all their matches in Dubai, India will be keen to continue the good momentum they have right now into going all the way towards the Champions Trophy. Here’s a SWOT analysis from IANS on the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team taking part in the Champions Trophy happening for the first time after 2017.

Strength: Undoubtedly, India’s main strength lies in their top four powerful batters. Captain Rohit Sharma showed parks of his ultra-attacking way of playing in the first ten overs while hitting 119 in Cuttack, while Shubman Gill stepped up to hit a fine century in Ahmedabad. The Rohit-Gill opening combination has been the most productive pairing for India.

Since joining forces in 2023, Rohit and Gill have made 1874 runs as an opening pair in 27 innings, averaging 72.07, including six 100-plus and 11 fifty-plus stands, making for a highly useful opening combination for the Indian team in 50-over cricket.

Virat Kohli also got a fifty in Ahmedabad to add more confidence in India’s ability to control middle overs with the bat, while Shreyas Iyer has stepped up as a very solid number four batter. With Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja batting deep and in good current all-round form, it augurs well for the Indian team in their quest to register competitive scores in Dubai.

Weakness: With no Jasprit Bumrah, it means India are without a game-changing fast-bowling force who could turn around the game in a jiffy in any phase of the game. His absence is a body blow for India, as they would look up to Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to step up.

Another pocket of weakness India have is diluting the powers of KL Rahul. It’s no secret that Rahul has been a handy run-scorer at number five. But with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s liking for left-right combination taking precedence, it has meant Axar has batted at that slot.

Rahul, meanwhile, has been pushed to number six, a place where his recent returns have gone down. A decision like this might backfire if India collapses like a pack of cards in the quest of getting fast runs in their batting innings.

Opportunity: India last won the Champions Trophy in 2013, when MS Dhoni was at the helm. Since then, they have reached two semi-finals and as many finals in 50-over ICC events. While they missed a home ODI World Cup win in 2023 and another Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, they now have a golden chance to make up for it in Dubai.

A Champions Trophy triumph will give Rohit another ICC trophy after winning T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies last year, while the win will also ensure a big result is in Gambhir’s kitty after having a tumultuous time in his coaching stint so far.

Threat: By picking five spinners in Axar, Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, India have decided to keep all options open in terms of bowling composition. It’s clear that they are going in with an intention to play three spinners in their playing eleven, especially with Dubai coming off hosting ILT20 matches earlier this month.

But what if they are asked to defend totals, and dew sets in the evening in Dubai, it would mean that their spin-pronged strategy would backfire, which then poses a big threat to their chances of winning the tournament.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy.

A sportsperson’s life more often than not is full of struggles. More so in India, where competition can be intense. But then, Indian sport is abound with stories where despite humble background, players rose to became stars with sheer discipline and hard work. Former India player Manoj Tiwary is one such name. He played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India. But had he been a little more fortunate, he would have featured in more international matches.

Tiwary played with the likes Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir  during his time with the Indian cricket team. He scored 796 runs at an average 99.50 in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy season. He led Bengal for a long time and was one of the best cricketers to emerge from the state. 

Tiwary, however, had to face a lot of struggle both on and off the field. He even thought of taking early retirement after he did not get enough opportunities for an extended period in the Indian team. 

“Due to responsibility, I did not take early retirement,” he said. 

He was also asked on his struggle in the teenage years when he had to work hard to pay off loans. “Those were difficult times. One thing I always had in mind was that I had to pay off the loan. We have Mangla Haat In Kolkata, there I used to sell poori sabzi. My mom used to make the pooris. Sometimes people did not even pay for the food that they ate,” Manoj Tiwary said on Lallantop. 

“I worked in factories of nut and bolts. This was around when I was around 14 years old. I got Rs 1200 per match when I played in U-16 level. So I did the maths and made sure I did well in cricket so that the  money always comes. I ran away from the factory. It was too hectic. The factory owner used to make us work.” 

When his debut came in 2008 it was not special. He slammed his maiden ODI century against West Indies in Chennai in 2011, but was benched for months after that game. MS Dhoni was the skipper of the side duting that time.

“He was the captain. Team India runs according to the planning of the skipper. In state teams, things are different but in Team India its all about the captain. If you see, during Kapil Dev‘s time it was he who ran the show, during Sunil Gavaskar‘s tenure it was his call, same was during Mohammad Azharuddin‘s tenure. After that Dada and so on. This will go on unless a strict administrator comes and makes a set rule,” Manoj Tiwary said. 

“You see Ajit Agarkar (current BCCI chief selector) and you feel he can take strong decisions. He can disagree with the coach. As far as me being dropped for 14 matches after scoring a century, if a player is dropped after scoring a century, obviously I want to know the answer. After century I was praised, but post that I did not have any inkling. At that time, youngsters used to feel afraid, including me. If you ask something, who knows what way it could have been taken. Career is on the line.

“The players who were in the team then were Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma. After that the Tour which took place, they were not making runs. And here I was, even after making a century and winning Player of the Match, could not find a place in playing XI. I was dropped for 14 matches, which took place in a space of six months. At that time the dropped player did not get enough practice. I wanted to retire but due to family responsibility could not.”

File photo of Gautam Gambhir (left) and Rohit Sharma.© AFP

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday asserted that the BCCI’s 10-point policy for its centrally-contracted players has actually been in place since his playing days and wanted to know when was it “altered” and by whom. Terming the guidelines “fresh documentation”, Harbhajan said the move diverts attention from the team’s forgettable on-field performance against New Zealand and Australia recently. Days after the 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the BCCI has come up with a 10-point diktat to promote “discipline and unity”, making domestic cricket mandatory, imposing restriction on the presence of families and personal staff on tours and banning individual commercial endorsements during series.

To Harbhajan, all these measures seemed like old wine in a new bottle.

“Let me first put this on record. When I was reading the travel policy document reported by the media, I hardly found anything new from the last time I represented India as a centrally-contracted cricketer,” Harbhajan told PTI during an interaction.

“At least nine out of 10 points, including duration of family visits, staying in same hotel, practice timings, all are same. My question is if these rules were in place during my time, who all have altered it and when? That should be probed,” Harbhajan, who has 700 plus international wickets across formats, said.

The same assertion was also made by one of Harbhajan’s former India teammate Irfan Pathan.

For Harbhajan, what is certainly not funny is the timing of issuing these guidelines as he feels the discussion should have been strictly on cricket only.

“Hum log mudde se bhatak rahein hain (We are deviating from the main issue). We didn’t lose 1-3 because wives and partners were there for two months. We didn’t lose because someone travelled separately.

“We lost because we have played very poor cricket at times. We didn’t bat well even at home. We have players who are horribly out of form. What are the course corrections being made? Or is it just these off-the-field things being discussed?” he questioned.

One of India’s finest spinners, Harbhajan then recollected his playing days.

“I think some of the points needed to be revisited because they were being flouted. Like in our times, I never saw a Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble leave for Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru just because the match has ended in three days and next game is a week away.

“They all stayed and travelled to next destination. Only change I see (in the new rulebook) is 150 kg suitcase allowance. Back in the day, we used to have lesser.

“Why would you need to tell players that you have to travel by team bus? That’s a given. If someone was breaking the rule, that person needs to be probed.” While he completely supported barring the personal entourage of any particular player or a coach, Harbhajan felt that the BCCI can have a couple of quality chefs travelling with the team.

“BCCI has deep pockets. Why do you need to carry personal chefs. In soccer World Cup, big teams carry their own chef, who takes care of dietary requirements of players. Have a couple of team chefs. It is not a big deal,” he added.

Gambhir’s role is on field not administrative

According to Harbhajan, the only thing new in the policy document is players requiring prior approval of head coach Gautam Gambhir on certain matters, and the former spinner didn’t agree with that.

“In our times, it used to be written that prior approval of BCCI was needed on certain matters. So, for approvals, drop a mail to BCCI and ask for permission. Why does the head coach need to get into all this? That is not his job.

“His job is on the field and in the technical aspects where we are lacking. Administrative part should be left with competent people in the BCCI,” he said.

File photo of Ravindra Jadeja.© AFP

Gautam Gambhir (centre) with Team India players.© AFP

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ripped into India captain Rohit Sharma for their defeat to Australia in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 in Melbourne. Rohit Sharma was slammed by Ali for not only ruining the confidence of KL Rahul by demoting him and promoting himself, but also criticised for his mentality. Basit Ali also reserved criticism for Gautam Gambhir, criticising some of the decisions taken during the game, and also suggested a captaincy change for Team India.

“One decision: ‘I will open’, that affected India. Rohit Sharma not only came back to open despite being out of form, he also put the in-form KL Rahul under pressure. You (Rohit) completely shattered the confidence of the team,” said Ali in a scathing attack on his YouTube channel.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli got out playing extremely poor shots,” Ali added. Rohit 9 and Kohli just 5 during the run chase.

India slumped to defeat on Day 5 of the fourth Test. Needing 340 to win on the final day, Rohit Sharma started off on an extremely defensive note, setting the tone for a draw.

“On top of everything, right from the start, you (Rohit) came in defensive, thinking ‘Draw, Draw, Draw’. Did you play like you deserve a draw? No,” said Basit Ali.

Ali also did not spare Gautam Gambhir and the team management. In particular, he questioned the decision to not keep a left-hand-right-hand combination in the middle after Rishabh Pant got out.

“I must congratulate Gautam Gambhir too. You (Gambhir) used left-hand-right-hand combinations to your heart’s content during the ODI series (against Sri Lanka), the series against New Zealand. Here is when you should’ve sent Nitish Reddy at No. 6. At least we would’ve known you’ve done something to save the game,” said Basit.

Finally, Ali also suggested a change of captain.

“I think the time has come for Rohit to step down; (Jasprit) Bumrah should be made captain for the last Test. You (Rohit) have served India a lot, but your body is not supporting you now,” Ali concluded.

Indian cricket has produced a generational superstar in Yashasvi Jaiswal and will remain in good health even when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to call time on their careers, feels former Australia head coach and two-time World Cup winner Darren Lehmann. The 54-year-old, who played 27 Tests and 117 ODIs during his decade-long career, is also captivated by Jasprit Bumrah‘s skills, claiming to have never seen any player have more impact in a single series. Talking about impending retirements of Rohit and Kohli following their poor show in the ongoing series where India trail 1-2, Lehmann was empathetic and practical about the transition in Indian cricket.

“Look whenever they decide to give it away and whatever happens in next few days they have been great players for India over a long period of time,” Lehmann, a member of 1999 and 2003 ODI World Cup-winning teams told PTI.

“Now actually we see younger players starting to step up for India and play well at next level. There is so much depth in Indian cricket I won’t worry too much,” Lehmann was pretty matter of fact.

“Whenever these two guys decide to retire, there are so many talented youngsters that Indian cricket will be in good stead.”

Having watched Jaiswal emerge as the flagbearer of Indian batting in the series, Lehmann made a bold prediction about the southpaw, who has scores of 161, 82 and 84 in this series.

“Oh, superstar. One of the best I have seen,” Lehmann said quickly, before the question was finished.

“He (Jaiswal) and Harry Brook are two next generation players. They are the ones that people will sit back and say they are good players. He played very well in Melbourne and was outstanding in Perth. He has come up leaps and bounds on this tour,” the beefy left-hander of yesteryears said.

But Lehmann reserved his highest praise for Bumrah, equating him with all-time greats such as Wasim Akram and Glenn McGrath.

“I presume he (Bumrah) is the next captain when Rohit finishes. He did a really good job in Perth. He is the best bowler I have ever seen live.

“I have seen Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath and all but I have not seen a bowler have impact like him in a single series like Jasprit Bumrah has since Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 Ashes win.

“This is very similar as Bumrah already has 30 wickets. He has been outstanding to watch. He will do well when he gets a chance to lead India.” Talking about transition, Lehmann noted that Australia’s batting could be a concern, rather than the bowling, even though Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, and Michael Neser are all in their early to mid-30s.

“I am not so worried about bowling as lot of good kids are coming up. Lance Morris, Xavier Bartlett from Brisbane Heats, so there are plenty of them. Spinners are okay but it is the batting that is being tested at the moment,” said Lehmann.

“There will be some changes with greats retiring but fast bowling will be good enough. How long Cummins and Starc survive time will tell, but hopefully, they will get to till next Ashes.”

Lehmann has had a decent reputation as a coach but when asked if he would consider coaching the Indian national team, the answer was negative.

“It would have been an honour to work with Indian national team but I am done with international cricket. I just want the young guys to get better,” Lehmann signed off.

India are set to face Australia in a five-match Test series, starting November 22. The series, known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is crucial for the Indian cricket team as it has its World Test Championship (WTC) final fate hanging on it. Visitors India need to win 4-0 in Australia to qualify for the summit clash comfortably, otherwise they will have to depend on various other results. Ahead of the all-important series, India head coach and former player Gautam Gambhir was asked on JioCinema to name the player, who could bat for 11 hours to defend a Test match. Gambhir replied “All the top seven.”

Test series against Australia is a transformative experience after which an individual “goes back a better cricketer” is what head coach Gambhir and some of the star senior players have been trying to instill in the younger members of the team on their first tour ‘Down Under’.

It will be a baptism of fire for several young Indian players, with the visitors naming as many as eight squad members who have never played a Test match on Australian soil.

The likes of Yashaswi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, all of them on their maiden tours will have plenty to prove during the marquee series.

And who better than the troika of Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, both on their fifth Test tours (2011-12, 14-15, 18-19, 20-21) and Jasprit Bumrah, who is on his third red ball tour (2018-19, 20-21) to share their invaluable learnings from the past series.

“Gauti bhai (Gambhir) had a chat with the boys just before we started, we had some of the senior boys as well,” Nayar said in video posted by bcci.tv. on Thursday.

“Booms (Bumrah), Virat , Ash (Ashwin) having a chat with the guys how first they came here as youngsters with a lot of seniors around and how they sort of felt that once you finish an Australia series you go back a better cricketer.”

“I think the young boys are very keen, raring to go and hopefully make a name for themsleves bu the end of this tour.

“It’s one of the toughest challenges for an Indian cricketer coming here and overcoming it, Nayar added.

(With PTI Inputs)

File photo of Rohit Sharma.© BCCI