If you thought Rahul Dravid’s ODI career was over, you could be wrong. The former India captain could well be back in the ODI scheme of things. Sooner rather than later that is. Don’t be surprised if he is recalled for India’s next ODI fixture — against Sri Lanka on December 15 in Rajkot.
The thinking in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) circles and also in the selection committee is that the players who have replaced Dravid have miserably failed.
That the top-order has not exactly fired in the just-concluded ODI series against has been taken serious note of. The ODI series loss against Australia has not gone down well with the men who matter in the establishment. It is being felt that India would not have lost the ODIs in Mohali and Guwahati if Dravid was around. To quote a key person in decision-making, the players who have replaced Dravid are “pygmies”.
But a lot may also depend on how the Karnataka batsman performs in the three Tests against Sri Lanka. A modest performance is unlikely to earn him a berth but at this stage there is considerable support, rather sympathy for him. Selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who avoids comments on any “controversial” issues, did not answer calls and messages from this newspaper.
Dravid was recently recalled into the ODI side for the Champions Trophy after a two-year hiatus. He was dropped for the Australia series after a modest performance in South Africa. The former skipper had scored 80 in three matches at an average of 40.
Meanwhile, it is clear that there would not be any immediate replacement for Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh.
A section of the BCCI thinks that the decision to do away with the bowling and fielding coaches was not right but the majority members of the Board feel there is no need for a replacement.
There have been reports that the coach and the mental trainer have been “over burdened” at the nets but the thinking is there is no immediate need for replacements. “With provisions for optional practice, we don’t see the need,” said a top BCCI official.
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