Backing Youth, and a Questionable Exclusion

By Mohit Joshipura 5 March 2008 152 views No Comment

Rahul Dravid had a below par test outing in Australia

It is always a tough balancing act. When should experience make way for youth? Where? And most importantly, at what cost? All these questions and more must have plagued Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s mind, and the collective minds of a selection committee that unfortunately (some would say inevitably) often triggers the riotousness of a given region in India.

Dhoni et al chose the Commonwealth Bank tri-series to usher out some hands that were rich with the experience of serving Indian cricket for over a decade, and welcome in a new generation of batsmen, bowlers, and just as importantly, fielders – another set of young men who are given the ludicrous albeit incomparably prestigious opportunity to control the mood of an entire nation.

Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman has probably resigned to the fact that he will live with the “Best Indian Cricketer that Seldom Played One-Day Cricket” label for the rest of his career. He has never found a regular place in the side because some say he probably lacks the hustle-bustle mindset required for this ubiquitously evolving form of the game. Others say he is far from agile, both between the wickets and on the field. True that. After a Test series where he gave crowds, viewers, and opponents alike glimpses into his prowess, he again found himself on a return flight to Hyderabad. But for all those gifts of elegance, grace, and effortlessness that God has bestowed upon his batting, he is sure to feel done over at having played only a handful of limited over games. Rahul Dravid had a below par Test outing in Australia, and the fact that he dug himself into holes when asked to (I would say unfairly) open the batting to accommodate Yuvraj Singh probably ensured that he would not find a spot on the CB Series roster either.

Ganguly, not the sharpest on the field

But by far the biggest firestorm was created when Sourav Ganguly was dropped after a decent performance in the Tests. In all likelihood, this was because he is a poor runner between wickets and usually tends to concede 10 runs in the field. Someone like a Rohit Sharma or Suresh Raina, both of whom are over a decade younger than Ganguly, is bound to be a livewire in the field and convert 1s into 2s and 2s into 3s while batting. We all know Ganguly is incapable of these adventurous excursions. The selection committee defended his exclusion by alluding to his fielding frailties and a vision towards World Cup 2011. Don’t get me wrong. I am all for the influx of fresh talent, because I realize that in a couple of years from now, Tendulkar, Dravid, and Ganguly will have passed on the baton. But was this the right time? And was it an overdose? What about the 50-odd runs Ganguly is capable of producing in the most testing of situations? What about the fact that he strengthens India’s top or middle order significantly, regardless of where he bats? India has made heavy weather of almost every run chase in this series, and were barely able to cross 150 when chasing 204 against Australia. With Sehwag injured and Yuvraj woefully out of form, the Indian batting lineup faces major obstacles once we see the back of Sachin Tendulkar, who himself has not been able to chalk up anything of worth thus far in the CB Series.

Tendulkar won’t ever be ushered out. But that’s because he’s Tendulkar. That’s not the issue, though. I believe that Ganguly has good reason to feel victimized for being unceremoniously excluded from the squad. Word has it that a reporter broke the news to him in a practice session during the end of the Test series. If you’re going to drop one who has served his country with pride and success for many years, at least do it with some dignity.

And to the fanatics in Bengal who just seem to wait in the wings to spring a riot and ruin the daily lives of many every time someone defames their beloved son, get over it. He’s an Indian first, and then a Bengali. He’s representing India while in Australia, and not Calcutta. Tendulkar is not a Hindu, a Maharashtrian, or a Bombayite when he walks onto the field. He’s an Indian. As viewers, we should have the common sense and balance enough to realize that we are also just that.

Photo Courtesy: the_world_in_my_eyes

Photo Courtesy: sarflondondunc