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Monday, Apr 09, 2007
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Placing trust on Dravid

G. Viswanath

Ganguly's `self absorbed' approach comes in for a critical view

Mumbai: The BCCI has placed its trust on Rahul Dravid to take forward Indian cricket in the forthcoming series against Bangladesh, Ireland and England.

The BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said that there was never any doubt of the Karnataka batsman not being given a further extension.

On Saturday, the BCCI treasurer, N. Srinivasan, listed the number of wins recorded under Dravid's captaincy, including the first Test series win in the West Indies in 35 years.

Mr. Srinivasan also pointed out that there had been several instances in the past where the BCCI had stepped in during tricky situations to give direction to the selectors.

Unanimous vote

Sources told The Hindu that the five selectors gave a unanimous vote to Dravid to demonstrate their resolve not to go back to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Tendulkar's appointment as vice-captain after the away series in South Africa was essentially to make him proactive. Whatever good vibes Ganguly evoked, following his return to form in the Test series against South Africa, was lost following his `self-absorbed' attitude in the World Cup matches against Bangladesh and Bermuda.

Dravid's candour in not pointing a finger at any of his colleagues was not taken at face value in the course of his interaction with the BCCI office-bearers, but the story of Ganguly's approach, of being not alert to the team's needs, against Bangladesh in particular, has spread thick and fast.

Ganguly, who made 66 (178 minutes, 129b), was dismissed in the 44th over and Yuvraj Singh in the 43rd over. Ravi Shastri wrote in his column that, given the circumstances, they should not have played the shots they did after putting on 85 runs for the fifth wicket.

Messages `ignored'

It seems that the team management was cut up with Ganguly's slow scoring (against Bangladesh) in spite of sending messages seven times through Dinesh Karthik and during the drinks intervals to look for quick runs.

Sources also said that countless messages were sent to Ganguly against Bermuda against whom he made 89 (161 mins, 114b). He expressed his frustration when dismissed 11 short of a century and, more importantly, one run short of 1000 runs in World Cup matches.

Though he reached the personal landmark against Sri Lanka, observers within and outside the BCCI are convinced that his batting approach against Bangladesh made matters worse for the Indian team.

The lacklustre performances of some players in the World Cup also led to the Working Committee members to urge the office-bearers to direct the selection committee to pick a young team for the series in Bangladesh.

"There was literally a clamour for a change in the make-up of the team,'' said a BCCI official. "There are young players who have performed in the domestic tournament and are knocking the door,'' said Mr. Srinivasan at a press conference on Saturday.

Best combination

Though changes are on the anvil, the selectors would pick the best combination, especially after Bangladesh's super showing in the World Cup.

The seniors may find a place in the pool of 25 players. As the seven former captains have advised the BCCI to rotate the players in the course of a peak cricket season, not all of them would make the squad, to be chosen in the third week of April, to Bangladesh.

Bengal's Manoj Tewari is almost certain to get a call after his consistent showing in the Ranji Trophy and other limited over tournaments.

Sunil Gavaskar had told him at the Castrol Awards function that he should consider himself distinctly unlucky not to be among the 30 probables for the World Cup. "He's good, but he has to curb his shots in the initial stage of an innings," Gavaskar told The Hindu on Sunday.

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