Have India lacked spark without captain Virat?

That extra push used to come from ‘Captain Virat’, who was always high on energy and transmitted that to his team members on the field. The ‘Player Virat’ so far hasn’t found the energy levels of ‘Captain Virat’. Most of the times, he has seemed to be detached. Even when a review is being taken, Virat hasn’t been seen giving his inputs.

 

Another likely reason for the Indian team’s perceivable lack of intensity is the unforgiving world of bio-bubbles in these Covid times. Several members of the side have been in the ‘bubble life’ for a greater part of the last two years and that has taken a toll.

As Rahul pointed out in the post-match presentation after the second ODI, “It (playing cricket while being in bio-bubbles) is challenging. Very challenging. I am not saying we don’t love challenges, but it has been tough on the body, this staying constantly in bio-bubbles.”