Hero-worshipping reason behind India's generational slump in Tests: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar blamed the hero-worshipping culture for India's worrying form slump in Test cricket. The Men in Blue have lost six out of the last eight Tests they have played, including back-to-back series defeats against New Zealand and Australia.

The former cricketer said that the slump isn't new in Indian cricket. He recalled a similar incident during the 2011-12 season, when India lost eight Test matches against England and Australia under MS Dhoni's leadership.

Manjrekar described the current period of poor form under captain Rohit Sharma as a generational slump. The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out the reason behind the losses and said that the renowned players were hurting the team with their dismal form.

"India are a sought-after cricket team that the world wants to eagerly host. They play a lot of matches in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries, so it is fair to be judged to the highest standards. This ‘generational slump’ is inevitable for all teams. It’s what we know as the transition phase and among the best teams in the world, I believe it affects India the most," Manjrekar wrote in his column for Hindustan Times.

"The one foremost reason behind this is the icon culture we have in India and the hero worship of certain players. Be it 2011-12 or now, it’s the same scenario that gets played out -- iconic players featuring prominently doing the opposite of what they did their entire careers, thereby dragging the team down with their diminished performances," he added.

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Manjrekar drew comparisons between Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and VVS Laxman's abysmal form during the 2011-12 season and that of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have failed to live up to their potential of late.

"When India lost 0-8 to England and Australia, Tendulkar averaged 35, Sehwag 19.91 and Laxman 21.06. Only Dravid stood out and got runs in England (he averaged 76.83) but in Australia he too was given a harsh reality check (he averaged 24.25)," Manjrekar said.

"Thing is, when it comes to the big players, we as a country are just not able to stay rational. Emotions run high and those in positions to take decisions on these players are influenced by this climate. Cricketing logic goes out of the window and then the selectors hope the player leaves on his own so that they don’t look like the villains who brutally ended the career of a great who millions of fans worship. They just fear the backlash," the former batter concluded on the matter.

India will focus on white-ball cricket for the next few months. Their next Test assignment begins in June, when they travel to England to face Ben Stokes and Co. in a highly anticipated series.