Loaded as Indian cricket is with double speak and hyperbole, the new chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar came across as a refreshing change.
No hyperbole, no double speak, the new chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar calls a spade a spade
MOHALI: Loaded as Indian cricket is with double speak and hyperbole, the new chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar came across as a refreshing change. For starters there are a few selectors who will go on record to say that “there is no exceptional talent” waiting in the wings. To voice it in a press conference packed with hard core cricket hacks reflects a man who won’t flinch from what he knows is right.
A query about VVS Laxman being overlooked brought on an even more blunt dismissal. “His fitness is not good enough for the highest level.” How Laxman will take that is anybody’s guess but for far too long have banal platitudes been dished out in the form of reasons for ignoring players. At least now Laxman knows precisely why and all he has to do is respond to what is an open challenge from the chairman of selectors: Want to be in my team? Then get fit or else chill at home.
The recent performance of the team elicited a more tame answer “all the players are not in great form” but Anil Kumble’s inclusion got a no-nonsense reply: “He’s an integral part of this cricket team”.
The one repeated query that had Vengsarkar stutter a bit was when he was forced to justify the inclusion of Wasim Jaffer. But even then he stuck to his guns and would not resort to the tried and tested norm of hiding behind the usual “I have already answered that question.”
Vengsarkar was willing to discuss each name that was thrown at him. He did duck the Sourav Ganguly issue by asserting that his name had not been considered even though insider sources reveal otherwise but overall Vengsarkar offers the promise of at least following his own convictions and every now and then calling a spade a spade.
That he was overheard asking BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah just “who is the vice captain” while on the dais might be a pointer that this man would rather examine the big picture instead of occupy his mind space with the trivial sidelights. Then a man who has played 116 Tests and 129 ODIs apart from captaining India would know his cricket, now wouldn’t he?
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