Indian cricket has undeniably played a significant role in shaping and influencing the landscape of international cricket. Its impact is profound and multifaceted, extending beyond the boundaries of the sport.
India's success on the field has elevated the standard of international cricket. The national team's consistent competitiveness in all formats has compelled other cricketing nations to improve their performance and strategies.
India's large and passionate cricket fan base has made it a financial powerhouse in the cricketing world. The Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the most lucrative T20 leagues globally, has attracted top talent from around the world and injected substantial funds into the sport.
This in turn has helped BCCI to maintain its dominance in international cricket.
Even after being the most elite cricket board and having some of the best players, Indian cricket has witnessed some big blunders in the past. Here is a list of 5 such incidents.
Greg Chappell’s Tenure as Coach (2005-2007)
Greg Chappell's tenure as the coach of the Indian cricket team, from 2005 to 2007, was marked by both promise and controversy. While he brought innovative training methods and emphasized fitness, his tenure was marred by conflicts with senior players, including Sourav Ganguly.
Under his coaching, India had some memorable victories, but they also faced setbacks. Chappell's management style and his perceived interference in team selection led to discontent among players and fans alike. Ultimately, his stint ended after India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup.
Dinesh Karthik vs Rishabh Pant in 2022 T20 World Cup
After a successful stint in IPL 2022, Dinesh Karthik got his name registered in Team India and made a successful comeback as a finisher in the lower order. In the beginning, things looked balanced and Karthik was justifying his role.
Rishabh Pant got sidelined and Karthik was given priority in the T20 World Cup. This decision turned out to be a major mistake by the team management as Dinesh Karthik completely failed. He was unable to score runs under pressure and was not making the right selection of the shots. Pant would have been a better player and the team management could have given him more chances over Karthik.
Match-Fixing scandal in 2000
The match-fixing scandal that rocked Indian cricket in 2000 was a dark chapter in the sport's history. It exposed a network of corruption and betrayal, implicating some of the game's biggest names. Prominent players like Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja faced allegations of involvement in match-fixing, tarnishing their reputations.
The scandal shook the faith of cricket fans worldwide, eroding trust in the game's integrity. Investigations and subsequent legal actions resulted in suspensions and bans for several players.
Sachin Tendulkar as Captain of Team India
Sachin Tendulkar, one of cricket's greatest batsmen, assumed the captaincy of the Indian cricket team in 1996. While his batting prowess was undisputed, his tenure as captain was often criticized as a mistake. One of the main reasons was the burden it placed on him, affecting his performance.
Tendulkar's captaincy coincided with a period of team instability, and the pressure took a toll on his batting form. Additionally, his captaincy lacked the desired strategic acumen, often seen as a tactical weakness.
Dropping R Ashwin from WTC 2023 Final
The recent mistake that team management made was during the World Test Championship final in 2023 while playing against Australia. Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the finest spinners from the India camp, was not selected to play in the most important fixture.
Ashwin played a crucial role in taking team India to the finals but still, his name was missing playing XI. He has good experience on foreign pitches and would have been useful at the Oval and could have given major trouble to the Australian batting lineup.
