Amay Khurasiya (Photo Credit: X)

KOCHI: Kerala’s slide from Ranji Trophy finalists to also-rans has reignited an uncomfortable question: was last season a glorious peak built on fragile foundations?Twelve months after finishing runners-up, Kerala failed to reach the knockouts. It is a regression too sharp to ignore and too stark to be dismissed just as a blip. The drop-off has reopened fault lines within the squad, exposing fissures that a dream run may have conveniently papered over.At the heart of the decline lies a Jalaj Saxena-sized void. The veteran all-rounder’s move to Maharashtra after nine seasons left behind more than just a statistical gap; it stripped the side of control, balance and experience during clutch moments.Playing in Elite Group B, Kerala suffered innings losses to Karnataka and Chandigarh, before notching up their lone win against Goa, capping a lacklustre season spanning seven games.“As head of the family, I take full responsibility for the performances,” coach Amay Khurasiya told TOI.“We prepared with the same earnestness as we did last season when we reached the final. But there were glitches in this season across all facets of the game,” Khurasiya explained.If there was a silver lining, it came in the tireless efforts of MD Nidheesh. “His work ethic was impeccable,” Khurasiya noted. “He is a great servant for Kerala cricket.”At 34, Nidheesh was the brightest thread in Kerala’s domestic cricket’s tapestry. A workhorse with a craftsman’s touch, Nidheesh picked 28 wickets from seven games this season, dismissing heavyweights like Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal with zen-like assurance.On Kerala’s emerging talent, however, the coach was terse: “No comments.”Former Kerala pacer Tinu Yohannan was more forthcoming.“There was no one to back Nidheesh. His lieutenant Eden Tom Apple looked insipid, with the next crop of fast bowlers nowhere to be seen,” Yohannan explained.The absence of Jalaj robbed the attack of control, while former captain Sachin Baby endured a lean run with the bat.The issues ran deeper. “We have no leg-spinner,” Yohannan said, terming Kerala’s attack short on variety. Promising left-armer Mohammed Enan, he added, “is not getting the backing he needs.”For Yohannan, the failure is as much about continuity as it is about personnel. “Once you reach the summit, you have to stay there. Sustain it, build on the momentum. Kerala were unable to do that.” Ironically, preparation itself was not lacking. “They began early this season, with camps as early as in May. But it translated to nothing.”“People have to be held accountable,” he added. It was a pointed reminder that preparation without clarity and long-term planning accounts for nothing.Kerala’s domestic journey has never followed a linear trajectory. Under Dav Whatmore, they reached their first semifinal in 2018. A year later, they flirted with relegation. The pandemic- altered 2020 season reshaped the landscape yet again.For Kerala, the task ahead is no longer about rediscovering last season’s spark. It is about building something sturdier that can endure the grind of the Ranji season. Only then can Kerala prove their run to the final was not a fleeting flourish, but the beginning of something substantial.

“We are not playing for milestones.”

“We are playing as a team, no room for star culture. Team comes first.”

“There has to be flexibility among batsmen in regard to their batting position.”

“Players should try to contribute with both bat and ball.”

“Fitness is non-negotiable.”

These are not exact quotes, but they are thoughts. And you would think they are India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s. Today’s generation wouldn’t know, but actually, the former India coach and Australia legend Greg Chappell wanted exactly the same things from the team back in 2005-2007.

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And guess what? He failed terribly and was later sacked. Because the cricket culture in India was different back then. It was big on stardom, rather high on stardom. The team was packed with stars. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh — and what have you!

His attempt to change the Indian cricket culture led to his departure. Players refused to cooperate. Tendulkar was not happy with his batting position in ODIs. During Chappell’s tenure, an Indian innings was declared with him just six short of a double century. Ganguly, who was instrumental to Chappell’s hiring, later fell really foul of the Aussie after it emerged he wanted the then India captain out of the team for good for his lack of runs.

He appeared to be promoting Irfan Pathan as an allrounder but during that period Pathan lost his pace as well as swing. And sadly Chappell was blamed. Mohammad Kaif has said it on record that he didn’t take kindly to several fielding suggestions by Chappell because he thought he was already doing well in that aspect of his game.

Today, one understands it better. A team that doesn’t play as a team, where players don’t have roles defined for them, where players can’t play multiple roles… its chances of winning big trophies are next to nothing.

Of course, Chappell didn’t understand the local culture and went a bit too aggressively about things. He would speak his mind in his interactions with the media. The Indian stars refused to take that, particularly from a foreigner. Say what you will, Chappell was an honest man. He indeed came here to win trophies and make India a major, trophy-winning force in international cricket. He was made to leave in the end. India wasn’t ready for him yet, it has to be said.

But his ideas stayed. There were some buyers for them, for sure. During MS Dhoni’s tenure, a lot of them were implemented, and India went on to win three ICC trophies between 2007-2013: 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli also embraced those ethos, and he achieved extraordinary success in Test cricket.

During his tenure, India became the first team from the Indian subcontinent to win a Test rubber in Australia in 2018-19. They did it again a couple of years later with Ajinkya Rahane captaining in four out of five Tests. Things went from strength to strength during Rohit Sharma’s stint.

Today, one can say Gambhir has totally executed Chappell’s ideas. He appears to be following to a tee. And in less than a year, India have won two ICC trophies and the team looks absolutely unbeatable in white-ball cricket. Like the 1970’s West Indies. Like Australia from 1999-2007. He has the same brash attitude, too. But nobody appears to be complaining much. Why? He has the BCCI’s support.

Anyway, India may have taken some years to truly implement and execute Chappell’s ideas, but they have come around alright, haven’t they?