Are shorter formats killing Test cricket in India?

Are shorter formats killing Test cricket in India?

Ask any Indian cricketer about their favorite format of the game and their answer will revolve around Test cricket. Almost all the cricketers from this country have expressed their desire of playing Test cricket. Is this true? I don't think so. The only possible reason behind their self made love for a five day game could be because of financial gains. A player who is picked in the playing XI of a Test match is paid Rs. 7 lakh per match by the BCCI.

The Indian Test cricketers of the present squad have failed over again and again in front of the big rivals. They are unable to handle the pressure inserted by opposite numbers and their away form has been pathetic. However, they are roaring in the shorter formats of the game. Men in Blue were the runners-up in the last edition of the T20 World Cup while they defeated England in the ODI series in European country's own backyard. When it comes to less consuming formats, Team India is always dangerous. It is a known fact that teams like England, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have got fine players in their Test teams but the way our players have crumbled in front of them is simply shocking. Rarely, in the history of the game, we have seen such clueless  performances.

The Indian contingent was considered unbeatable at home but England got better of them in a Test series played in 2012. According to many, the current set of Indian cricketers are spoilt by the fame and money they earn as cricketers. The batsmen in India have not put a high price on their wickets while the bowlers lacks penetration in Test cricket. Even the fielders are unaware about the basics or they are not looking to put their bodies on the line in order to register famous wins. The slips are poorly stationed and therefore it results in dropping of simple catches. The cricketers coming out from this developing country has formed a good opinion for the shorter formats where skills and level of concentration are different from Tests.

ODIs and T20 matches are much simpler as players have to go through routine formula but Test cricketer requires new ideas every now and then. MS Dhoni, the Indian captain, is a good tactician in the short-games because he knows what is required out of players in these versions of the game. He can mold the batting order and bowlers according to the need of a particular.

The master tactician has failed to innovate in Test cricket which is why he has become one of the worst skippers in the history of the game. He does amazing things but that is only limited to his favorable formats. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara  and Virat Kohli are good batters but have not produced much needed results in a five day game. The habit of poking unnecessarily at the moving balls or playing away from the body has come into them from the ODIs and T20s where there is pressure of scoring a brisk pace. They like short ways of proving their talent in front of the whole world and the cash rich league has certainly given them that opportunity.

The Indian bowlers are used to bowl short spells in the short formats where their physical strength is only tested for a few hours. The case is completely reverse in Tests as bowlers are made to bowl long spells. The five match series was enough to sucked out energy from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who lost his line and length after three matches. The same could be said about Ishant Sharma. He was one of the main reasons behind India's fantastic triumph at Lords but only one long spell forced him to miss out from the remaining matches.

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