Yashpal, VVS and Kolkatta ODI

The news that has filtered out now from the selection committee meeting is that Yashpal Sharma had the audacity to suggest dropping VVS Laxman from the test team. Can you believe this ? Here is one of the most classiest test batsmen, India ever has produced, perhaps next only to Gundappa Vishwanath with an incredible test average of 44 and 140 to boot in the last 2 tests he has played. VVS is also one of the best players of spin and that is definitely going to come out handy when playing against Muralitharan’s doosras. How come Yashpal can think of this ? Yashpal, himself with a man of modest test record (but the rest of the committee is even worst) is perhaps swayed by regional thoughts (I won’t call them regional pressures – North zone associations are too fractured and divided to put in any real pressure on anyone !! Look at the chaos in Delhi – the capital Ranji team did not even get a ground to practice !!). It is now learnt that VVS would not have been selected , had it not been at the insistence of Dravid !!! Pranab Roy, seemed to have also joined Yashpal in this hatred campaign against VVS. This should be a typical you scratch my back and I will soap yours kind of motto. After all Yashpal (along with the other Sharma) helped in bringing in Sourav and hence Pranab decided to reciprocate Yashpal’s brainy move. What is Yashapl thinking ? Perhaps, he thought that he can get away with one since Hyderabadis hardly said a word when the 1^st ODI was played there, when VVS was not in the ODI team unlike the emotional Kolkatta, which was ready to boycott the whole match due to the Sourav issue. Yashpal then acts like politician swayed by emotional hang overs of millions rather than reason. A friend of mine commented on the whole selection nonsense “Nepotism, favoritism, sycophancy and incompetence take precedence over meritocracy in all walks of public life. Cricket only mirrors the larger picture”.

I have only watched the highlight videos of Kolkatta ODI but going by media reports, it seems to be abject surrender without a fight. I wrote in the blog that I am not convinced by Sachin’s form and he getting out to a tame defensive mistake to a pretty straight ball from Pollack said it all. I was also not too convinced about sending Pathan to open. Dhoni had a rare failure and failed to hit a boundary even. Rahul's form is worrying but even more his tendency to get bowled or caught and bowled of the leading edge is looking omnious. The bowling had totally lost the plot against Smith and the score was not even defended. If India would have taken 4 or 5 wickets and still lost the match after making a fight of it, then I would have said that there is a fighting chance to level the series. Now, I feel that unless the Wankhade wicket totally favors India, this will end at 3-1.

So, life can turn quickly here. Cricket is a great leveller and can bring folks back on to earth pretty quickly especially with a match every 3 days. But, Rahul has to blame himself. First of all not enough home work was done – there was no need tor a greenish pitch at Edens but even then, this is not Perth to get to 75/5. Shaun Poolack at best is a line and length bowler these days and allowing him to bowl 4 maidens and 3 wickets was just not the thing to do. India certainly did a tactical blunder by not preparing a square turner. I have said this a million times – play to your strength – Spin. If you want to prepare for matches abroad, play your domestic cricket with fast wickets and not internationals.

Sourav and company must be delighted on the happenings in the last 24 hours. A big 100 in Ranji with 5 wickets to boot , a tame defeat at his backyard and a series defeat down the barrel. Things could not turned to be better from his point. He infact must be thanking the Gods since since own selection against SA would have only added to the problems. I am almost certain that he would have not helped at all, in these top order collapses.

The pressure is back at GC and RD and a SA win of the ODI series and a Murali mesmerizing spell at Chepauk can really put things on the backfoot for the duo !!