India’s making it to the top of the Test Charts was a due payback for cricket fanatic citizens who had switched allegiance to cricket en-masse in the late 70’s / early 80’s.
Although it was long overdue, thanks to MSD and his men, Indians feel at the top of the world because of this feat. There have been many high points during the sojourn. The periodic Very Very Special innings; ‘Ton’dulkar’s tons, Nawab of Nazafgargh’s blitzkriegs, ‘Serious’ Consistency at the top by his partner, the Wall lent solidity as usual. The rise of the ‘Zahir’ with adorable and romantic pace bowling. And of course the survival of the tenacious Turbanator. Do I need to mention the Mr Cool himself marshaling from behind the stumps and off the field? Ever improving himself and ever encouraging the team. The think tank of the rise of the Phoenix.
With all these and many more, it seems inevitable that India had to touch the pinnacle of Test Cricket. Kind of a birth right. But, I cant help but wonder that we just missed the bus yet another time. We would have missed the cut in 2010 had Sehwag not slipped a bit for a year or so [during the Dravid/Greg regimen] or if Yuvraj had been a bit less debonair off the cricket field during the same time.
The singular reason that we could manage to build on the great work done by Ganguly, is because we had a leader who brought in that little bit extra of positive energy, that little bit extra of mental space and provided that little bit extra of self-belief. We may all recollect that MSD getting the job was a bit of a surprise. I remember half the nation tickled by the rabbit from the hat of the selectors. And I also do remember Yuvraj openly telling it that he was disappointed to have been given the miss. I do not remember who was the Chief Selector then – probably it was Vegsarkar. Putting MSD in the seat was not an obvious choice – it was a conscious choice made. Good job done for once. Rather good job done once more.
Good job done for once - because normally Indian captaincy decisions are like politically correct Indian budget presentations – meant to please, not deliver. Good job done once more – because have been few instances when of Indian captaincy decisions were not damp squibs but were like an innovative bowling change. Giving Sourav Ganguly the job was one such move. His was not the most politically correct choice at that time. But he did wonders – did not he? The one to start and win the mental battles with the opponents in their backyards. He made the team believe that they were the first amongst the equals. The one who had given the Shewags, the Bhajjis, the Yuvrajs, the Zaheers the mental space and the confidence to strike gold. In fact MSD himself was brought from the incognito South East Railway team to don the India cap – thanks to Dada. Lets thank the selectors who started the trend with Dada.
Else, we could have missed it the way we missed it with RJS. Post Kapil, the mantle should have fallen on RJS. However – it was Azhar who was given the job. To be fair to Azhar, he went on to be India’s most successful captain – but by then India had bunch of highly talented cricketers. I would like to stick my neck out and suggest had we given RJS the space to lead the team – he might have laid the foundations for India to be numero uno in 2000 itself and the wait would have been over 10 years earlier. RJS was less of talent true, but compensated more than enough with strategy and temperament. That is what great captains are made of. Many people tell that Ganguly [despite his silken strokes] and Dhoni [I read such a comment in cricinfo recently] are not natural cricketers, though immensely successful. In fact as a kid, I was waiting to see RJS as captain but then providentially his form dipped a bit and Azhar pipped to him the job. That curtailed RJS’ career by a few crucial years and delayed India's ascendance to the throne. [For triva sake – Azhar had played in the India junior and the Board Preseident’s team under Shastri. Shastri has plotted a downfall of great batsman and better teams during his early cricketing days. Azhar had played under Shastri for the Board President’s team against England and scored a hundred – the innings that got him a chance to be in eleven for the 3rd test at Eden in that series – the rest is history as we know. Azhar scored 3 back-to-back tons on debut that series.]
Why this story on RJS [Ravi J Shastri] now? The other day, I was reading Bhajji telling the media how he is back to talking 5 wickets per match. And how the tips given by ‘Ravi Bhai’ helped him to change his line a little bit to beat the new sweeps and swipes in cricket post the 20-20 era. That took me down to bit of a reverie and reminded me of how Indian system had missed out on one captaincy material.
Bhubaneshwar
July 24, 2011
Although it was long overdue, thanks to MSD and his men, Indians feel at the top of the world because of this feat. There have been many high points during the sojourn. The periodic Very Very Special innings; ‘Ton’dulkar’s tons, Nawab of Nazafgargh’s blitzkriegs, ‘Serious’ Consistency at the top by his partner, the Wall lent solidity as usual. The rise of the ‘Zahir’ with adorable and romantic pace bowling. And of course the survival of the tenacious Turbanator. Do I need to mention the Mr Cool himself marshaling from behind the stumps and off the field? Ever improving himself and ever encouraging the team. The think tank of the rise of the Phoenix.
With all these and many more, it seems inevitable that India had to touch the pinnacle of Test Cricket. Kind of a birth right. But, I cant help but wonder that we just missed the bus yet another time. We would have missed the cut in 2010 had Sehwag not slipped a bit for a year or so [during the Dravid/Greg regimen] or if Yuvraj had been a bit less debonair off the cricket field during the same time.
The singular reason that we could manage to build on the great work done by Ganguly, is because we had a leader who brought in that little bit extra of positive energy, that little bit extra of mental space and provided that little bit extra of self-belief. We may all recollect that MSD getting the job was a bit of a surprise. I remember half the nation tickled by the rabbit from the hat of the selectors. And I also do remember Yuvraj openly telling it that he was disappointed to have been given the miss. I do not remember who was the Chief Selector then – probably it was Vegsarkar. Putting MSD in the seat was not an obvious choice – it was a conscious choice made. Good job done for once. Rather good job done once more.
Good job done for once - because normally Indian captaincy decisions are like politically correct Indian budget presentations – meant to please, not deliver. Good job done once more – because have been few instances when of Indian captaincy decisions were not damp squibs but were like an innovative bowling change. Giving Sourav Ganguly the job was one such move. His was not the most politically correct choice at that time. But he did wonders – did not he? The one to start and win the mental battles with the opponents in their backyards. He made the team believe that they were the first amongst the equals. The one who had given the Shewags, the Bhajjis, the Yuvrajs, the Zaheers the mental space and the confidence to strike gold. In fact MSD himself was brought from the incognito South East Railway team to don the India cap – thanks to Dada. Lets thank the selectors who started the trend with Dada.
Else, we could have missed it the way we missed it with RJS. Post Kapil, the mantle should have fallen on RJS. However – it was Azhar who was given the job. To be fair to Azhar, he went on to be India’s most successful captain – but by then India had bunch of highly talented cricketers. I would like to stick my neck out and suggest had we given RJS the space to lead the team – he might have laid the foundations for India to be numero uno in 2000 itself and the wait would have been over 10 years earlier. RJS was less of talent true, but compensated more than enough with strategy and temperament. That is what great captains are made of. Many people tell that Ganguly [despite his silken strokes] and Dhoni [I read such a comment in cricinfo recently] are not natural cricketers, though immensely successful. In fact as a kid, I was waiting to see RJS as captain but then providentially his form dipped a bit and Azhar pipped to him the job. That curtailed RJS’ career by a few crucial years and delayed India's ascendance to the throne. [For triva sake – Azhar had played in the India junior and the Board Preseident’s team under Shastri. Shastri has plotted a downfall of great batsman and better teams during his early cricketing days. Azhar had played under Shastri for the Board President’s team against England and scored a hundred – the innings that got him a chance to be in eleven for the 3rd test at Eden in that series – the rest is history as we know. Azhar scored 3 back-to-back tons on debut that series.]
Why this story on RJS [Ravi J Shastri] now? The other day, I was reading Bhajji telling the media how he is back to talking 5 wickets per match. And how the tips given by ‘Ravi Bhai’ helped him to change his line a little bit to beat the new sweeps and swipes in cricket post the 20-20 era. That took me down to bit of a reverie and reminded me of how Indian system had missed out on one captaincy material.
Bhubaneshwar
July 24, 2011
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