Why India needs to be wary of its aggression in tests

Why India needs to be wary of its aggression in tests: As soon as Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli took over the reins of the Indian test team, a word started buzzing around in the media. It was the word more associated with the Australians, the word was ‘aggression’. There were talks in almost every press conference about how the team will play the aggressive brand of cricket even if it sometimes meant losing the game.

As cricket aficionados, it was a welcome change to see the team adopting a more positive approach. ‘Aggressive’ cricket meant the viewers will now see more entertainment and thrill and thus there will be more pleasing cricket. It was good to see that the team’s mentality is that of winning. Maybe this winning mentality can change the fortunes of the team which had reached the nadir at least in the away conditions by the ignominious whitewashes through the hands of Australia and England.

But there have been some instances which have instilled a fear in the Indian cricket fans that instead of ‘aggression’ their team is practicing ‘over aggression’ and even if it is aggressive cricket the circumstances demanded a calm approach.

Instances that demanded a less aggressive approach

When Rohit Sharma was selected at the number three spot in the Sri Lankan test series, the crux of the reasoning that was given was that he has more flair and positivity in his batting than Cheteshwar Pujara. Finally when Pujara got a chance in the third test, albeit as an opener, he played one of the defining innings of his career, though the innings did not have any obvious flair, but it was full of grit and determination. Though Pujara had a horrid run in the away tests but still he looks more technically proficient in playing at the coveted number three spot. And selecting anyone on the basis of his positivity in a game that demands patience looks an ill judgment.

Another instance that happened in the test series against Sri Lanka was the overly aggressive attitude of Ishant Sharma. He was docked 65% of his match fees in between the series but went on to receive a one-match ban due to his appalling behavior in the third test. Though it is a speculation, but even after receiving a match fees deduction if Ishant went on with his strange behavior, it seems like the team management didn’t warn him. The result of his ban is that India will miss its premium fast bowler in the crucial first test of the South African series.

Aggression should be practiced judiciously

Indian team needs to ask one question to themselves ‘Can tests be won solely by playing aggressive cricket’? The answer that would echo in their mind would be ‘NO’. Tests require skills, grit and determination more than the aggressive brand of cricket they keep on preaching around.

Even playing out a testing spell defensively on the first morning of a test is aggressive cricket. It sends out a clear message to the opposition that we are here to win and not surrender meekly. It would seem foolish if you try and dominate a world class fast bowler by playing rash shots when he is on song. It would make more sense to see him off and then target the other bowlers.

Though Indian fans would not be aversive to the aggressive brand of cricket India wants to play. But they would be aversive to this aggression if it starts causing bad decisions and poor cricket solely to focus on the dominating brand of cricket. India should be wary of not getting carried away by the aggression, else it would lead to their doom. They would be better off mixing aggression with their skill set and determination. The resulting cocktail would taste much sweeter.