 "Exclusive | 'Kohli should play Ranji for Delhi, it will help him': Ex-cricketer Ajay Mehra")
The writing was on the wall and now it has been confirmed. The BCCI has cracked the whip and sent a very strong message to the Indian men’s senior cricket team which is made up of a number of ‘star’ players. A new set of rules as part of a new diktat will see a number of changes being brought about, some new and some which had been in place under previous captains. Some rules – like the one that states that all players have to travel together for tours, matches and training have pleased many because this, in turn, fosters team bonding and camaraderie. Something that is essential in a team sport. Another rule that has impressed many is not allowing personal commercial shoots during a tour or during a series, so as to maintain focus.
But the one rule that has been re-emphasised without mincing any words is for players to show up for domestic cricket in order to remain eligible for national selection. After a number of below-par results, including a historic ODI series loss in Sri Lanka, a 0-3 drubbing against New Zealand in Tests at home and then relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, the message for the cricketers is loud and clear – get rid of your superstar airs.
A new appointment has also been made with former Saurashtra captain and NCA veteran Sitanshu Kotak reportedly being brought on board as the new batting coach.
Ahead of Team India’s next assignment, former Indian First-Class cricketer and commentator Ajay Mehra, who follows all cricket very closely, spoke to Firstpost from the sidelines of the ongoing ILT20 in the UAE, where he is part of the commentary panel, about the new rules, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s cricketing future, Team India’s support staff, the best choice for the next Indian Test captain after Rohit and more.
Excerpts…
What do you make of the new set of rules as per BCCI’s latest diktat for the men’s team, including no travelling with personal staff and domestic cricket being made ‘mandatory’ for national selection…
Impact Shorts
View AllAjay Mehra: I honestly think that this is a very good thing that the BCCI has done because first of all, we need to understand that any player who comes up and plays international cricket, comes up via the First Class (cricket) route. It’s not the other way around. I remember at the start of the season they had the Duleep Trophy and just two players missed out – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rest everybody (else) played. Playing domestic cricket makes a difference. It’s a very good thing. The new set of rules have come in and this is going to be really good for Indian cricket. BCCI has done the wise thing. You have to have a window for the wives as well. I know family time is really important, but international cricket is not easy. When you are travelling abroad, it’s not easy. So, I think that window (for families to travel on long tours) is good. I think this set of protocols which have been applied will be good for the Indian side. It’s always a team game and when you are travelling with the team etc it makes a difference. I think these rules will be good for Indian cricket.
What about the ‘superstar culture’ in Indian cricket? Why don’t our ‘star’ players usually make themselves available for domestic cricket? Now, they have been told they have to. Shouldn’t this be something that the players do willingly, especially when out of form?
Ajay Mehra: When these players (star players) come in it will make a difference to the youngsters as well. What has happened is that there has been so much of international cricket – there’s the IPL and then international cricket. So, you need a break as well. Say for a fast bowler – I always say for a fast bowler he should be rotated and given rest. But, for a batter – the more you bat (the better you get). I was a batter and I know that the more you bat, in different conditions, the better for you. I think the ‘star’ culture should be out. We saw that India struggled against New Zealand on turning tracks. The more you play on different wickets, different surfaces, it really is good for you. For fast bowlers I understand they need breaks, be it Bumrah or anybody else. But for a batter – the more you play it will be better for you.
What we have heard so far is that players like Pant, Shubman, Jadeja and even Rohit have made themselves available for the next round of Ranji Trophy matches starting January 23. Rohit has started training with the Mumbai team, but not Virat. DDCA haven’t heard from Virat yet, as of January 17. He hasn’t played Ranji Trophy since 2012. Your take on that…
Ajay Mehra: I feel he (Virat Kohli) should play (Ranji Trophy). This is my take. I don’t know whether he is playing or not, but I feel he should play. It will be good for him. We know that he is a great player, no doubt about that, but a match scenario is always different. You play First-Class cricket, you get runs there, you are coming back, the confidence will be different. I think if all these other players are playing (Ranji Trophy), Virat should also be playing for Delhi. It doesn’t matter when he played last. If he is free, we all know what he can do. He is a great player. But I think if he is available, he should be playing for Delhi. It will help the Delhi side and it will also help Virat Kohli going into the Champions Trophy.
How much longer, realistically, do you see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continuing to play Test cricket, and for that matter overall international cricket? Do you see them staying on till the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup?
Ajay Mehra: I think One Day cricket they might continue (playing), but I honestly feel that if India doesn’t do well in the Champions Trophy – this is my personal take – I don’t see both of them going for the England series (5 Test tour in June-August). It will be one of them going. We know that they (Rohit and Virat) have been great players, they have been great servants of Indian cricket, no doubt about that. But if India doesn’t do well in the Champions Trophy, then you have to think along other lines. And I just see one of these two great players going for the England tour. I think Virat Kohli – his fitness levels are still amazing. I have seen him. He’s absolutely very fit. Rohit Sharma will be under pressure. India have to do well in the Champions Trophy because you need these results coming in from the Indian side. They have some fantastic players. But the results also have to come in for the side.
If you had to pinpoint three things that hurt Team India the most on the tour of Australia this time, what would they be?
Ajay Mehra: I think consistency in fast bowling – that has to be one. I think they (Team India) bowled well in patches, but consistency has to be there. I feel the spinners could have delivered more. And as a batting unit, we failed a few times. We were dependent on a few batters, but a lot of the time the top order really struggled. In trying conditions, on green surfaces – that’s one area we really have to improve on. I thought at times Bumrah lacked support from the other end. It was a collective failure you can say for the Indian side.
The next edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is coming up. Overall, 2025 is a year where there will be more focus on ODIs than in 2024 when only three matches were played. Your take on India’s chances at the Champions Trophy this time. They will be playing in Dubai, a neutral venue. The tournament is coming back for the first time since 2017, also India haven’t won an ICC ODI tournament since the 2013 edition…
Ajay Mehra: I think the chances (for Team India to do well) are going to be bright. What has happened in the past is done. We have to reassess. We have a very good side. In Dubai, the conditions are going to be different altogether – more like the subcontinent. I think that if India play to their potential, they have a very bright chance. I won’t be surprised if India win this edition of the Champions Trophy. The One Day game is different and I am sure even players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be stepping up. It’s a very good line-up, believe me, the Indian team is a strong side and I am very hopeful that the Indian team will be doing well. Fingers crossed. I just want them to win the final at the Champions Trophy.
Your take on the Indian team’s support staff currently. Abhishek Nayar as assistant coach for one has been under the scanner a bit lately…
Ajay Mehra: I know that the results haven’t been coming, but you have to be fair to them (the support staff). They need a bit more time. Sometimes you have to look at the other side too. You can (always) pinpoint a few things that have gone wrong, but I feel you have to give them more time. Sometimes results take a bit of time to come in. I won’t be commenting anymore about Abhishek Nayar or anyone else in particular, but I do feel they need time.
Former Saurashtra captain Shitanshu Kotak is all set to join the team as new batting coach. He has been Head Coach on several India A tours and served as assistant coach to VVS Laxman for the Ireland T20Is in 2022, and then head coach on the same tour in 2023. He has also been a batting coach at the NCA since 2019. Your take on this call by the Board
Ajay Mehra: I have seen him work and I think that he is a very, very committed person. He got loads and loads of runs at the First-Class level. Sometimes you just look at the big names, but you have to understand – a man who has really fought it out at the domestic level, who has played well – I have seen him play and coach and he has been with the NCA for a long time. Once you are with the NCA, you understand the players, you know exactly what their abilities are because you have watched them very closely. I think it’s a good move (to bring Sitanshu Kota onboard). You know we can’t just be bringing in people from all over the world. Your own people need to be promoted. I think Sitanshu Kotak, for me, is a very good choice.
Let’s talk about Gautam Gambhir’s impact as coach now. Going by whatever we have seen so far, what has been your impression and what is your take on the criticism he is facing?
Ajay Mehra: Just like what I said about the other coaches – I think it’s quite early. I think the Champions Trophy and then the England series – they are going to be big ones for Gautam. Sometimes there are a few drawbacks on the side – you have got to understand that. The coach is trying to work on those things, but I think you need to give Gautam a bit more time as well. We shouldn’t be very harsh on him. Yes, the results haven’t been coming in – that’s fair, we have seen that. But I think that as a coach, sometimes you are just working on things. You have seen those new set of rules (from the BCCI) coming in. That might probably help as well. Sometimes the coach is as good as the team plays. So, you have got to give Gautam a bit more time. If India get (good) results in the Champions Trophy and the England tour, if they come back strong, then I think people will say – yes, Gautam is doing a decent job.
Is Jasprit Bumrah the best choice for India’s Test captain going forward, after Rohit?
Ajay Mehra: Absolutely. What we saw in the Perth Test, the way he led this side – I think that sometimes a bowling captain makes a big difference. We all know the impact that Bumrah has with the ball. I was watching that Test (in Perth) very closely and I thought he made a big difference as captain. I think after Rohit Sharma, he will be the best choice for Indian Test captaincy. The experience that he has, the way he delivers and the way he took the team along in that Test match – I was very impressed with that.
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