IND vs WI: There Won’t Be A Void In The Indian Team For Next 15-20 Years – Kamran Akmal On India's Bench Strength

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal appreciated India’s bench strength and said the future of the team is secured. 

In the times of Covid-19, India discovered the talent of its fringe players who became stars at times when the best weren’t available to play. For instance, let us go back to January 2020 and that Gabba match against Australia. Indian team’s core players were forced to bench due to various injuries and in the tough time youngsters like Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur stepped up to showcase the depth in India’s domestic circuit.

The policy of rest and rotation was yet to come to the fore but the excellence against Australia and England was enough to acknowledge that Indian cricket is more than its star players. 

The trend of fielding two different teams in two different countries started when a Shikhar Dhawan-led second-string side visited Sri Lanka in July last year to play white-ball fixtures. In the same time period, a Test side under Virat Kohli was gearing up to face England in a five-match series. 

India have identified their future: Kamran Akmal

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that India has all the resources to play three teams in three different formats and places simultaneously. India won back-to-back ODI series against England (2-1) and West Indies (3-0) recently. 

Once again Dhawan captained a team including a bunch of youngsters getting the opportunity to play against the West Indies. Indian cricket board had opted to rest senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. 

“After the 2019 World Cup, I think India have given chances to nearly 50 players. They have identified their future, who will take charge after the current generation hangs up their boots. This is how players mature. Previously, after Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar’s departure from the scene, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Jasprit Bumrah took over,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel. 

India will not have a problem when big names like Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan retire: Kamran Akmal

Akmal, who has played 11 Tests, 27 ODIs and six T20 Internationals against India in international cricket, said the current pool of talented players will ensure Indian cricket remains in safe hands after a few veteran players retire from the game. 

The Pakistan keeper signalled Shubman Gill, who finished the West Indies ODIs with the most runs (205), as a player in making.

“The biggest positive for India from the West Indies series has been the performance of the bench strength. India will not have a problem when big names like Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan retire because players like Shubman Gill will take over the mantle and ensure that Indian cricket keeps moving forward in the right direction.

“He (Gill) batted exceptionally well in this series. Really enjoyed his batting. He has so much time to play his strokes,” the Pakistan wicketkeeper said. 

India will commence the five-match T20I series against the West Indies on Friday (July 29) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya will be available for selection after their break in the ODI leg.

Also Read: IND vs WI: Shikhar Dhawan Becomes Fourth Indian Captain To Win All ODI Matches In Overseas Tour