February 22, 2025

Shameful Capitulation

By Slogger
First publised on 2020-12-21 02:24:46

About the Author

Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.

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It was an anti-climax no one had expected. Although the script was not going the way the Australians wanted it to go and it was clear that they would come back hard after conceding a lead in the first innings, neither was their comeback so strong nor did they do anything exceptional on the third morning. It was sheer capitulation and a display of school-level application that made India post their lowest ever total in Tests in Adelaide in the first Test.

Indian captain Virat Kohli admitted that the ball was not doing much and there was no devil in the wicket. The Australian bowlers were also not doing anything different. The Indians had negotiated the same set of bowlers on the first day when the pitch was livelier in a much better fashion. But in the second innings, it seems they had hara-kiri in mind. Even Kohli played a loose shot. That cover drive was simply not there for that ball. As captain, he should have understood the situation and should have dug his heels in to prevent such a carnage.

Obviously the Indians will treat it as a bad day in office. But was it? And for each and every player? No one had the spine to stand up at one end and encourage another player to build a partnership. Granted it happened all too fast and was over before anyone could think anything. But aren't modern cricketers expected to put their hands up in such situations? Aren't they chosen in the team for as much for their temperament as for their talent and form? This Indian batting lineup failed the nation - a loss to a better team is not shameful, but capitulation to a team one can beat is.