Same Old, Same Old - December 20 (As Featured in Tabla Singapore)

Last Thursday saw the All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen announce his retirement from the job he loves so much. He will step down after next year’s world cup where he and his team will attempt a record 3^rd world cup in a row. 

The 59 year old New Zealander who has been on the All Blacks coaching staff for 18 years - eight of them asahead coach - and won the world rugby coach of the year award three times, has an unbelievable record of 85 win’s from 96 matches while in chargeof the New Zealand side.

Hansen’s legacy however, was best defined by New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew who talked about how Hansen has “enhanced” the “special thing” that makes the All Blacks what they are. “We still have men who make mistakes, but largely this group carries itself outstandingly well" said Tee.

The rugby officials measure of Hansen’s legacy was not related to winning, but touched on how he had transformed the conduct of an All Black on and off the field – much like what captain Brendon McCullum did with the New Zealand cricket team.

Compare that to all the bad press the Indian captain Virat Kohli has attracted over the past few days. He has been hammered for his poor behavior on and off the field. The 30 year old is building a legacy for sure, but one is just not sure what it’s going to be.

Former Australian skipper Allan Border said he has never seen any captain behave the way Kohli does. Legendary Indian actor, Naseeruddin called the delhi born the greatest player in the world and the worst behaved in the same sentence.

Ex-Australian batsman Michael Hussey described Kohli’s behavior in the second test against Australia – which India lost by 146 runs on Tuesday – as concerning, while former Australian captain Mark Taylor described the players state of mind as "being on edge."

Personally, as much as he is my my favorite batsman in the world, I never can be a fan of the way he conducts himself on the field and off it - where he confronts the press or anyone who disagrees with him. 

He has made it amply clear that he does not care what people think of him. There is always a mongrel in every side, but rarely is it the captain.

In the pre-match press meet, Kohli made a snide remark: "I hope they dont trim any more grass off the (Perth) wicket." I thought it was cocky to say the least. 

It was little wonder then to see India start the test without any spinner - preferring to go in with four seamers. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was out injured. So, the only question should have been to play Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja, both left arm spinners, instead. 

India not only messed up their team selection by not picking a spinner, they opted for Umesh Yadav as the fourth pace bowler. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has a far better record as a strike bowler. 

The result was a thumping loss to Australia, whose off spinner Nathan Lyon picked up 8 wickets in the match. Umesh returns figures of 2 for 139 from 37 overs - getting hit at almost four runs an over. 

Kohli later said "(The thought of including) Jadeja never crossed our minds when we looked at the Perth wicket." The reality, the Indian think tank got duped by the pre-match hype: The Perth wicket would be lightning fast. 

It was not the first time that they had got it wrong. They have read match conditions wrongly on more than one occasion recently - based on what others have observed rather than sensible judgement. 

Solid middle order Ajinkya Rahane was dropped for the first Test against South Africa in Cape Town in January earlier this year, while Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was kept out for the second test after he had performed well with both ball and bat, in the first test. 

Dependable no. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped for the first test in England in the summer, while two spinners were picked for the Lords Test on what was a seamer's wicket. There are many more such instances that cost India dearly. 

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar was very direct recently when he questioned Kohli's and head coach Ravi Shastri's roles in a side which has been fumbling worryingly overseas. 

If India do not win the remaining tests in Melbourne and Sydney over the next few weeks, the tour down under would be considered an utter failure, especially given the absence of the experienced David Warner and Steve Smith from the Australian ranks. 

Kohli has carte blanche to run the team as he choses. He is the best batsman in the world without doubt, but as a captain he has failed to make his mark - either as a strategist or an ambassador of the game. 

For all those who defend Kohli by the clichéd “a captain is as good as his team”, I offer the counter: A leader in any field should be able to “hire and develop a world class team.”

If the team cannot deliver results then the players and in time the captain must take responsibility and make way for others. The great Sachin Tendulkar was humble enough to realize this and stepped down as captain. Both India and he benefitted from this.

Nobody is bigger than the game. The Indian cricket board’s Committee of Administrators member Diana Eduljee has revealed that rules were flouted in the sacking of the previous coach Anil Kumble and Kohli was allowed to have Shastri as the replacement – much against the wishes of the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising of Indian greats Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Despite “his man” Shastri being in charge, India’s batting standards have declined significantly from the time Kumble was in charge. This in turn even raises questions about what the batting coach Sanjay Bangar does?

Kohli and PUjara are the only ones to have scored more than one century during tests in South Africa, England and Australia this year.

India have failed on six occasions this year to chase down fourth innings targets – 208 in Cape Town, 287 at Centurion, 194 at Birmingham, 245 at Southampton, 464 at The Oval  and 287 at Perth. At least 3 of these should have been achievable, if not 4.

Kohli while celebrating what was probably his best hundred yet, at Perth, pointed towards his bat to suggest he was going to let it do all the talking. He better do that effectively in the next two tests.

No cricketer is up for a fight like he is. But his players should also take the fight to the opposition rather than squabbling amongst themselves like Jadeja and Ishant Sharma did at Perth.

Maybe it’s time for Kohli to focus more on talking less to the opponents and more to his team – about what needs to be done. Or maybe he should remain quiet and let his silence speak for itself.

In life there is always time for talking and a time to stay quiet. Wisdom is knowing when to use the right one.