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Friday, January 4, 2013

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Ho gaya Indian Cricket team ka "Happy Birthday"

Indian team is having a horrible run from last 1-2 years.




In tests they lost 4-0  to England in England. Then lost 4-0 to Australia in Australia. Lost again to England 2-1, sadly this time in India.

Soney pe suhaagaa :) - Now lost one day series with Pakistan(in India again this time too).

Ho gaya naa Happy B'day Indian cricket team ka :) ?

I think to great extent this team has dent the image of Indian Cricket team as fighters that Ganguly had built as a good leader/captain. He got the confidence in the team that we can beat England, Australia, Pakistan on their turfs too. But Dhoni and co have taken the Indian test team back to around 2001 time when Ganguly was appointed the captain.


Alone Dhoni can't be held responsible for this. I feel BCCI and selectors are equally responsible for this poor state of Indian cricket. After the 4-0 & 4-0 losses to Brits & Aussies, when this team couldn't draw 1 test, forget winning, it was clear that the team requires corrective measures/changes. Dhoni should have been replaced by Sehwag/Gambhir/Virat K in tests as Captain. I will not specify the person as let selectors do the job for which the five are paid over 50 Lakhs per annum each.

Dhoni could have been retained as One day and T20 captain as he understands, leads and performs good in these formats. Dhoni can even be continued as member of test team if right now there's no better keeper-batsman in India.

It looked ugly to acknowledge and accept the fact, but from about 2008-9 but it was becoming glaringly clear that the time was almost up for the big 3(tendulkar, dravid, laxman) . It would have been better if in around last 3-4 years, Selectors(bunch of jokers, as referred by Mohinder Amarnath) would have rested one of them on rotation and tried various other young batsmen like Badrinath, Manoj Tiwari, Rahane, Pujara, Virat etc to build a good team for next decade.


I also feel strongly that IPL played a big role too in the downfall of Indian team's Test performance. Batsmen's techniques are compromised for fast runs. Most bowlers just have 3-5 or more kind of deliveries to contain batsmen but don't seem to have pace, swing or turn to take wickets in testing 5 days format. Most spectators and followers are happy seeing jazzy and colourful T20 matches. Money speaks right. Players and board members are enjoying the IPL bonanza.

Hope the Board and selectors get their act together fast and Indian cricket lovers (95% of Indian sport lovers, 5% other sports) can see spirited and professional performance from Indian test team in the longer version. I know most of old and true cricket lovers value one off shore test victory more than 3 T20 wins in India.

Thank you...

And please do comment..

Anurag G