If reports are to be believed, then I think Kris Srikkanth & Co must give due weightage to what Dhoni has to say. You just can't choose a team in his absence, hand over to him a sheet with names scribbled on it, and then expect him to go ahead and perform at his best. I feel it is quite demeaning for a captain not to be included in the scheme of things. After all, it is he who's going to be out there in the middle calling the shots.
However, even if the selectors personally do not agree with what the captain or the coach has to say, at the end of the day the onus is on the selectors to select the team after consulting the captain.There are ways and means of how to go about selecting a team. For instance, I used to have a quiet word or two not only with the captain and the coach, but also with a couple of senior players before getting down to the task. In this way, I'd get to know their views on certain issues that I anticipated would crop up.
Thus, come what may I'd be prepared to handle the situation without stirring up a hornet's nest.
I think Srikkanth would be better off if he shows some patience and allows others to express their views too. I guess, eventually, he will learn from this avoidable episode.
With the series having been won most comprehensively, I feel the time is right for the selection committee to induct players with potential. That would not only build our reserve strength, but also allow the players an opportunity to exhibit their talent at the highest level.
Indirectly, the younger players would also get a feel of being part of a winning team's dressing room, and that would stand the future of Indian cricket in good stead.
When else would they get such an opportunity to rub shoulders with stalwarts and learn a thing or two from the experience?Certainly, circumstances have presented Srikkanth and his fellow selectors with a splendid opportunity, and they must not let it go abegging.Players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Dhaval Kulkarni, Mohnish Parmar and Pragyan Ojha to name a few are knocking on the doors and will surely make it sooner or later. And to pave the path for them, they must be made to feel they're a part of Team India, a place that every young cricketer in the country dreams of being in.
Readers' comments:
Who is Dhawal Kulkarni and who is Mohnish Parmar? Wait, who cares? As far as everyone knows, the REAL Test frontrunners in India are Kaif, Pujara, Praveen Kumar, Chawla, Mukund, and Vijay.
Thursday, December 4, 2008 15:26 IST
Sudhir Parmar
Vengsarkar should shut up and allow Srikkanth to do his job. After Srikkanth took over India has won the Test series against Australia and now the ODI series against England.
Vengsarkar was a failure. Why is he advising Srikkanth? For decades Tamilnadu cricketers were dropped by Indian selectors from Mumbai and Punjab. Even now M Vijay is not easily selected though the Aussies/British favour him.
My advice to Vengsarkar: Just shut up.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:51 IST
RavBalky
With reference to this article, people like Vengsarkar are also very partial and only list all Mumbai-based or North Indian players. It is unfortunate that in his list there exist no players who are playing from Tamil nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, AP, etc. While he is giving advice to K Srikkanth he will only be happy for the inclusion of Mumbai players. I do not know when we will come out of this habit. No wonder only now when the captain is from a small town and players are from all over are we a winning combination. I played for VCA and I faced this. Only Maharashtra players were selected and those with a "kar" in their surname. Hope we come out of these habits!!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:03 IST
Jay
Looks like he is missing being in the chief selector's seat. Cheap shot. Did he ever talk to Srikkanth? Or is this just another sensational headline topic to sell his column? This patronizing attitude of "I used to have a friendly word blah, blah, blah." Hang up your boots and go eat, man! You've had your day. Let the man do what he needs to do and learn on his own. If you want to advise him, do so personally, and don't tell us about it! Worthless sensationalism.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:14 IST
Steady
Sarkar, you are full of s***. You were not fair when you were in that seat and now you want to comment on the process. But that does not make what they did or allegedly did with Dhoni right in any manner.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 8:06 IST
Gopa Menon
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