End of star culture in Indian cricket?

PTI New Delhi

Gautam Gambhir has always been against the mega-star culture prevailing in Indian cricket but Mohammed Siraj’s Herculean effort throughout the English summer has definitely given the Indian head coach a real shot in the arm.

The creditable 2-2 series draw in England will certainly empower Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar to crack the whip and usher in a uniform team culture where certain individuals who would not be treated more than equals as it happened in recent years.

It is understood that the selection committee, Gambhir and the decision makers in the Indian cricket board are all on the same page with regards to putting an end to players picking and choosing games and series in the pretext of workload management.

“There have been discussions and the message will be sent across to the centrally contracted players, especially those who are all format regulars that this culture of picking and choosing games won’t be entertained in near future,” a senior BCCI official privy to current happenings said on conditions of anonymity.

“It doesn’t mean that workload management will be thrown out of the window but a more objective approach is expected in near future. Obviously, fast bowlers’ workload needs to be managed but it can’t be accepted that in the name of workload management, people will miss crucial matches.”

Siraj, who sent down 185.3 overs across five Tests, not to forget the hours of fielding and also overs bowled in the nets during the last six weeks is a shining example of what peak fitness looks like.

More importantly, the performance of Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep has proved that even the biggest of stars are dispensable and no one is bigger than the team.

Even England skipper Ben Stokes despite multiple issues bowled marathon spells till the end of the fourth Test raising debates whether workload has become an “overrated concept” used for convenience.

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar ripped apart the over-usage of workload management.

“I hope that the word ‘workload’ goes out of the Indian cricket dictionary. I’ve been saying that for a long time… And I think that is the one thing that we all should keep in mind that this workload is only a mental thing, not so much a physical thing,” he said.

It can be said with some degree of certainty that Jasprit Bumrah not being able to take the workload of five Tests hasn’t gone down too well with the powers that be in the BCCI.

It has also raised questions about the competence of the Sports science team working at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

It is expected that after a month-long rest, Bumrah will be available for the Asia Cup T20 in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

“Look if Bumrah plays in the Asia Cup and if India go the distance till September 28, he won’t obviously play the West Indies Test series starting October 2. However, if there are no injuries, he will certainly play the two Tests against World champions South Africa in November.”

With Nitin Patel’s exit and the new head of Sports Science team expected to be recruited at the CoE, the notion is that players — especially fast bowlers — would be able to play more than being wrapped in

cotton wool.