DRAVID: NEED STRIKE BOWLER

Rahul Dravid believes that the main reason behind India’s recent defeats overseas is that they don’t have a genuine strike bowler towards whom the captain can turn every time he is in desperate need of a wicket.

This observation made by Dravid seems to be bang on. The performance of Indian batting so far on the tour of New Zealand or even on the previous tour of South Africa for that matter cannot be termed as poor. The batsmen have put their hands up and have given their 100% more often than not, but, it’s the bowlers who have let the skipper MS Dhoni down.

In the first test match against New Zealand which was played in Auckland, India had won the toss and had put the hosts in under perfect bowling conditions.

They could easily have bowled the Kiwis out cheaply on the first day there, but, no, it wasn’t to be. They bowled plenty of bad balls and let New Zealand score more than enough runs.

It wasn’t the story in only that Auckland test match. In each and every match that India has played overseas this season, the story has been the same.

The Indians have to go on a couple of very tough tours this year and then, they will have to defend their World Cup crown next year. So, they badly need to find good bowlers especially the fast bowlers.

As far as the spin department is concerned, people like Ashwin and Jadeja are still doing reasonably well, but, the pace battery doesn’t look lethal at all and that’s why on green tracks, India is losing games so frequently.

The Indian selectors are aware of this issue, but, their problem is that there are not too many talented fast bowlers coming through the ranks in the country. So, they don’t have any option really apart from persisting with those who are currently in the team.