in the conservative world of INDIAN CRICKET

I’m sure the BCCI and Selectors are compelled to give something to the public who are very much infuriated by the 2-1 loss to England.

Even if the Selectors strongly believe, Dhoni still the way to go, it is not a bad idea to give the benefit of doubt to the sect (media, public and pundits) who perceive otherwise. Luckily, we have the sport which exists in multiple formats. And the Dhoni they back so much came after a trial in T20. So it is not a poor logic to retrace the success path. I suggest, try Kohli as a skipper starting with T20’s over Pakistan. Let’s see what he can do with it. Even if he does not come out in flying colors, it would still be a move with an eye for the future. By the way, countries like Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan are all threading this path to explore/develop upcoming talents. Importantly, new skippers are launched everyday using T20 vehicle. Australia is working with George Bailey, England with Broad, Pakistan with Haffeez and South Africa with DuPlessis now. So, if India ventures Kohli in T20, it is not such a bad move.

It is not just the debut of Kohli as a skipper that will suffice. An overhaul is equally important. I would like to share the squad that I carry in my mind for the T20’s against Pakistan. I picked these names based on my limited domestic following. I don’t exactly mean the same team, but a team like this that is entirely new and refreshing.

Ajinkya Rahane, Unmukt Chand, Virat Kohli*, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary/Rayudu, Mandeep Singh/Maneria, Manvinder Bisla, Stuart Binny, Bhuvaneswar Kumar, Jalaj Saxena, Harmeet Singh, Pankaj Singh, Parvinder Awana, Shami Ahmed.

The above squad gives an opportunity to try fresh pair of openers, some known names trying to break in, new all-round talents, new crop of spinners and fast bowlers. By no mean, I say the above team will succeed. But this will be our genuine effort to induce youth into the system. At the end of the day, a handful of them will surely come out in flying colors after the T20’s against Pakistan. But that could be under the expense of losing to our archrivals. Again, what worse than 8-0 and 2-1? After all, here we know we are sure to lose, but still benefit.

I don’t end here. Those names that succeed in these T20’s against Pakistan should be tried immediately in the ODI’s that follow (against Pakistan and England). At the end of 2 T20’s and 8 ODI’s, I’m sure, we would have unearthed 2 or more players, who are worthy a debut in the series against Australia.

Bottom line: Not sure, if all this will happen so fast in this conservative world of Indian Cricket.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover