“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it,” Nikki Giovanni
International cricket is strange, more so when it comes to the passage of time.
You follow the long journey of a cricketer from his nascent steps in the sport right up to that inevitable day he decides to hang up the shoes he took those very steps in. You feel as though the veteran has been around forever. Yet, at the same time, it seems like you bore witness to the youngster’s nervous debut just yesterday.
This, right here, is the strangeness of international cricket. Time here is relative, uneven and inexplicable.
Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are vital bones to the Indian team’s skeleton of today. It is impossible to imagine Virat Kohli and Co. taking on an ODI encounter without the duo strapped to their arsenal now. If Bumrah bowls with extreme pace in the beginning and unreal precision at the end of an innings, Pandya turns into the perfect all-round performer India has yearned since years.
The pair made its T20 debut on the same day against a daunting opposition at the start of last year.
Match: India vs Australia, 1st T20.
Date: 26 January, 2016.
Venue: Adelaide.