With India’s early exit from the WC, just about everybody is screaming bloody murder. The media and television networks are worried about the inevitable drop in viewership. The sponsors are crying about the moolah they spent covering our team and the short hand they were dealt by this early exit. The media will try to squeeze the last drop of honey while they possibly can by lambasting the players and our team on TV 24/7. Just about everyone has a strong opinion about Indian cricket. Ex-cricketers, sports journalists, columnists, and the doodh wala bhaiiyas will have a field day playing MMQB and writing 1000 word essays on the teams’ performance and our new POA to ensure India’s success at WC 2011. For starters here is what Kris Srikkanth has to say about the Indian performance: Too many experiments, but hardly any results. The BCCI will meet with the captain and the coach on April 6th to take “serious decisions” regarding Indian cricket. . So while we get ready for the aftermath of the Indian team’s performance where heads will roll for sure, here is me playing MMQB and offering my 2 cents worth.
Rahul Dravid (C) – A captain has to be a lot more imaginative than conventional. He is a thinking captain, but at times too conservative. IMHO, he should be persisted with because he has the potential to be India’s best captain ever. I would think he has another 2 yrs of cricket left in him. Having said that, he needs to take charge and call the shots a little more often. Standing by Sehwag was fine, but he definitely should have stuck to the “youth” tune that Chappell was singing. He cracked when it mattered most and fell back on his “experienced” seniors.
Sachin Tendulkar (VC) – I hope he plays cricket till he is 50. Anyway, making him the VC was a bad move. Groom some youngster instead. Let SRT do what he does best - BAT. He didn’t have a good tournament but he is the greatest batsman the world has seen. Bring him back as an opener (if he so wishes) and let him decide what he wants to do with his game. Although I have always been one of his biggest fans, I think he needs a few sessions with a sports psychologist. I refuse to believe that the best batsman in the world with every shot in the book cannot score (or at least look like he might score) a hundred in every match. In recent times he seems to get bogged down when there is too much pressure. Play like you don’t care.
Ganguly – He did well after he was brought back into the side. Everybody talks about Ganguly’s great comeback – well he performed well *after* he was brought back into the team. Lets face it, he didn’t deserve a comeback based on his domestic performance. In any case, he has played consistently ever since, although the strike rate has been alarmingly low. His running between the wickets, fielding, and selfish batting stick out like a sore thumb. Pick him on a series by series basis but give him another year (max) to retire in style while grooming a youngster to take his place.
Sehwag – It’s about time he is a *little* more consistent. If SRT needs to play like ‘he doesn’t care’ Sehwag needs to do the opposite. An average of 30 in ODIs is not acceptable and he needs to do the hard yards. Work on his fitness and shot selection. Drop him every time he doesn’t perform and pick him only when he is in form. Uthappa – He needs to be persisted with. The WC might not be the best place for an average newbie with a 5 ODI experience to showcase his talent. In him, I think we have a good flamboyant opener that we so desperately need.
Yuvraj Singh – He was the key - a terrific batsman in the form of his life. He needs to be the new VC.
Dhoni – Much will be made out of the way he got out against Murali. An explosive batsman/keeper who needs to be groomed right.
Dinesh Karthick – A decent keeper. I don’t know if he will make it in to the team as a pure batsman. But he brings a lot of energy on the field. Plus, looks like a genuine guy who is just happy to play for his country and will give it all for the team.
Pathan – Could someone please tell me why his pace dropped and how did he lose his swing? There was a 12 month period where Pathan and Dhoni were responsible for almost all the Indian victories. He is one genuine all rounder that India could have. He needs to play domestic cricket till he drops. The series against Bangladesh would be a good stage to test his match readiness.
Zaheer – He deserved a comeback. The attitude is gone and he has done the hard yards playing county cricket. The energy shows when he bowls. He needs to work on his bowling at the death though.
Munaf – The best we have. McGrath like. Pick up some pace and he will be one of the best. He might want to work on his fielding though which fluctuates between pathetic and hilarious.
Rahul Dravid (C) – A captain has to be a lot more imaginative than conventional. He is a thinking captain, but at times too conservative. IMHO, he should be persisted with because he has the potential to be India’s best captain ever. I would think he has another 2 yrs of cricket left in him. Having said that, he needs to take charge and call the shots a little more often. Standing by Sehwag was fine, but he definitely should have stuck to the “youth” tune that Chappell was singing. He cracked when it mattered most and fell back on his “experienced” seniors.
Sachin Tendulkar (VC) – I hope he plays cricket till he is 50. Anyway, making him the VC was a bad move. Groom some youngster instead. Let SRT do what he does best - BAT. He didn’t have a good tournament but he is the greatest batsman the world has seen. Bring him back as an opener (if he so wishes) and let him decide what he wants to do with his game. Although I have always been one of his biggest fans, I think he needs a few sessions with a sports psychologist. I refuse to believe that the best batsman in the world with every shot in the book cannot score (or at least look like he might score) a hundred in every match. In recent times he seems to get bogged down when there is too much pressure. Play like you don’t care.
Ganguly – He did well after he was brought back into the side. Everybody talks about Ganguly’s great comeback – well he performed well *after* he was brought back into the team. Lets face it, he didn’t deserve a comeback based on his domestic performance. In any case, he has played consistently ever since, although the strike rate has been alarmingly low. His running between the wickets, fielding, and selfish batting stick out like a sore thumb. Pick him on a series by series basis but give him another year (max) to retire in style while grooming a youngster to take his place.
Sehwag – It’s about time he is a *little* more consistent. If SRT needs to play like ‘he doesn’t care’ Sehwag needs to do the opposite. An average of 30 in ODIs is not acceptable and he needs to do the hard yards. Work on his fitness and shot selection. Drop him every time he doesn’t perform and pick him only when he is in form. Uthappa – He needs to be persisted with. The WC might not be the best place for an average newbie with a 5 ODI experience to showcase his talent. In him, I think we have a good flamboyant opener that we so desperately need.
Yuvraj Singh – He was the key - a terrific batsman in the form of his life. He needs to be the new VC.
Dhoni – Much will be made out of the way he got out against Murali. An explosive batsman/keeper who needs to be groomed right.
Dinesh Karthick – A decent keeper. I don’t know if he will make it in to the team as a pure batsman. But he brings a lot of energy on the field. Plus, looks like a genuine guy who is just happy to play for his country and will give it all for the team.
Pathan – Could someone please tell me why his pace dropped and how did he lose his swing? There was a 12 month period where Pathan and Dhoni were responsible for almost all the Indian victories. He is one genuine all rounder that India could have. He needs to play domestic cricket till he drops. The series against Bangladesh would be a good stage to test his match readiness.
Zaheer – He deserved a comeback. The attitude is gone and he has done the hard yards playing county cricket. The energy shows when he bowls. He needs to work on his bowling at the death though.
Munaf – The best we have. McGrath like. Pick up some pace and he will be one of the best. He might want to work on his fielding though which fluctuates between pathetic and hilarious.
Agarkar – The whipping boy of Indian cricket. He was never an all-rounder. Can’t resist giving the batsman at least one 4 ball in an over. He has been bowling well in the past 2 yrs, but has never been consistently consistent. Persist with him till you find someone better.
Sreesanth – He needs to play every ODI he can. Definitely one of our rising stars, he has yet to come to terms with one day cricket.
Kumble – All well, what can we say about India’s greatest bowler ever? A separate post on him later. Btw, he is to announce his retirement from one day cricket when he gets back to India. We will wait for the official announcement.
Harbhajan Singh – what’s the deal with him? Could someone please tell him that bowling 5 doosras in an over will never fetch him a wicket? He has been resting on his laurels for too long. He is way too defensive to be playing as our premier spinner. I can’t remember the last time he bowled a match winning spell (tests or ODI) or has made any sort of impression on the batsmen in ODIs. He bowls way too fast and flat for an off spinner entrusted with the responsibility of taking wickets in the middle overs. Powar should have played instead.
Ramesh Powar – He should have been picked instead of Bhajji (incase I haven’t said it enough times already). He is a genuine attacking off spinner who pushes batsmen into making mistakes with his loop and turn. Very useful in the middle overs. Now if only he would lose weight and pick up his fielding.
What changes would I make after the famous April 6th meeting? Drop Harbhajan and Ganguly. Include Powar, Piyush Chawla, Gautam Gambhir in the team. Persist with Chappell and Dravid. Make Yuvraj the VC. My lineup would be: Uthappa, Gambhir, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid (C), Yuvraj (vc), Dhoni (wk), Pathan, Powar, Zaheer, Munaf. Extras: Karthick, Sreesanth, Chawla.
Sreesanth – He needs to play every ODI he can. Definitely one of our rising stars, he has yet to come to terms with one day cricket.
Kumble – All well, what can we say about India’s greatest bowler ever? A separate post on him later. Btw, he is to announce his retirement from one day cricket when he gets back to India. We will wait for the official announcement.
Harbhajan Singh – what’s the deal with him? Could someone please tell him that bowling 5 doosras in an over will never fetch him a wicket? He has been resting on his laurels for too long. He is way too defensive to be playing as our premier spinner. I can’t remember the last time he bowled a match winning spell (tests or ODI) or has made any sort of impression on the batsmen in ODIs. He bowls way too fast and flat for an off spinner entrusted with the responsibility of taking wickets in the middle overs. Powar should have played instead.
Ramesh Powar – He should have been picked instead of Bhajji (incase I haven’t said it enough times already). He is a genuine attacking off spinner who pushes batsmen into making mistakes with his loop and turn. Very useful in the middle overs. Now if only he would lose weight and pick up his fielding.
What changes would I make after the famous April 6th meeting? Drop Harbhajan and Ganguly. Include Powar, Piyush Chawla, Gautam Gambhir in the team. Persist with Chappell and Dravid. Make Yuvraj the VC. My lineup would be: Uthappa, Gambhir, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid (C), Yuvraj (vc), Dhoni (wk), Pathan, Powar, Zaheer, Munaf. Extras: Karthick, Sreesanth, Chawla.
