India today stands as the most powerful force in world cricket—economically, administratively, and commercially. From scheduling international tours to shaping tournament structures and broadcasting revenues, global cricket largely revolves around India. Wherever the Indian team plays, records of earnings are broken. Players, organizers, support staff, and especially the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enjoy unparalleled financial strength.
The resources available to Indian cricket are unprecedented. From Under-15 tournaments to the senior national team, players benefit from world-class infrastructure, modern training facilities, professional contracts, and financial security. Cricket academies have mushroomed across the country, coaching standards have improved, and the talent pool is so deep that selection at every level has become intensely competitive.
Yet, despite these solid foundations, India’s repeated failures on home soil are a matter of serious concern. Losses against major cricketing nations—across formats—raise uncomfortable questions about the system. When conditions, pitches, and crowd support are all in India’s favor, why does the team so often fail to deliver decisive results?
The recent ODI loss to New Zealand is a case in point. India posted a strong total of 284 runs, built by seasoned batsmen such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. However, the team still lost by seven wickets. The primary reason was evident: ineffective bowling. When frontline bowlers—especially spinners—fail to apply pressure and leak runs freely, the opposition’s chase becomes comfortable, and victory slips away almost effortlessly.
This is not an isolated incident. In recent times, India has even lost entire series at home, with bowling—particularly spin bowling—emerging repeatedly as the weakest link. This reality stands in stark contrast to India’s traditional cricketing identity.
There was a golden era when Indian spin bowling dominated world cricket. Legends like Bishan Singh Bedi, B.S. Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan struck fear into the hearts of the world’s best batsmen. Visiting teams dreaded Indian pitches, knowing survival itself would be a challenge. That legacy now seems to be fading.
If India is to reclaim its invincibility at home, it cannot rely solely on its formidable batting lineup. The revival of quality bowling—marked by variety, discipline, and consistency—is imperative. This requires focused investment, patience, and long-term planning, especially in nurturing spinners who can adapt to modern formats without losing their attacking edge.
India has the money, the talent, and the infrastructure. What is now required is vision and resolve. Without addressing this critical weakness, the tag of a “cricket superpower” will remain incomplete—strong in influence, but vulnerable where it should be most dominant: at home.
by
Arvind Sharma
Columnist and Senior Journalist
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