Focus on Local Cricket After 0-3 Loss to New Zealand

After India lost a Test series 0-3 at home to New Zealand, Sunil Joshi, a former cricket selector, is urging Indian players to focus on playing in local cricket matches to improve their skills. 

The Importance of Domestic Cricket

Joshi believes that playing in local tournaments, like the Ranji Trophy, is very important for improving skills and staying ready for big games. He remembers a time in 1998 when, after a tough Test match against New Zealand, famous players like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Joshi himself played for their home team, Karnataka, in a practice game against the Kiwis. This helped them stay in good form and led to India winning the next Test match.

Players’ Responsibility in Preparation

Joshi believes that players should take full responsibility for their own preparation, not just rely on the BCCI or selectors. He suggests that experienced players should play more local matches to get used to different types of cricket, like white-ball and red-ball games, so they can be ready for international matches. 

Fixing Recent Batting Problems

The recent series showed that India’s batting has some big weaknesses, especially against spin bowling. Joshi thinks that playing regularly in local cricket could help solve these problems. This would give players more chances to practice and gain experience in different conditions, making them better prepared for various challenges. 

A Call to Action

Because of these problems, Joshi is saying something important: Indian cricket players need to see local cricket as a key part of getting ready for bigger games. If they do this, they will get better at their skills and keep the strong history of Indian cricket alive. This will help them be strong and do well in international games. 
This idea makes us think: Will India’s best cricket players listen to this advice and work on their game at home? How they answer this question might decide how well the team does in the future.