Having played only two test matches for India in 1982, Pranab Roy’s name might not be known to the average Indian cricket fan. But, his ability to adapt into different roles within the sport’s realm has seen him play different roles such as an umpire, match referee, and most importantly, national selector.
In 2005, Roy was instrumental in Sourav Ganguly’s return to the national setup, ahead of the India-Pakistan tour. However, his most successful selection came a year earlier, when he introduced current Indian limited overs cricket Captain MS Dhoni to the world.
How Roy spotted a young, charismatic Dhoni
He said, “I first saw him when he was playing for Bihar, he had a very unorthodox approach to batting, which didn’t impress a lot of people. Especially the coaches which I spoke to then, they weren’t very happy in the way he approached his innings. However, he used to always get runs on the board, and was very sharp as a keeper. People called it madness, but there was always a method to his madness. That is why I selected him.”
Roy added, “For me it’s a great feeling that, a cricketer who was selected by me is playing so well at the highest level. As a selector you always want the player to stay for a long period of time. If he plays one series and never makes a return, it’s a failure on my part as well.”
Dhoni found an unsung hero in Roy, who went against several selection committee members to give him his initial break. In 2004, Deep Dasgupta was the first choice keeper for India, but an untimely injury saw Dhoni get his initial break. The rest as you know is history.
Speaking about Dhoni’s retirement plans, Roy added, “I personally feel every cricketer should be given that space to decide when he wants to retire. He deserves that, after serving India for so long. There are senior players from yesteryears, whose career dragged on in the final few laps, yet they were given that space. Hence, I feel there is no one better than him to take that decision.”
Indian bowling attack is very ordinary: Roy
Currently plying his trade as a Match Referee, Roy has been an integral part of the domestic for the past three years. When asked about the current team’s shape, he said, “I feel India is a very strong side, with massive bench strength now. This is what we lacked earlier, if one player got injured we had to bring in average players. But, I also feel that our bowling attack is very ordinary, the day batting fails, bowlers will have a tough time.”
Roy also stated that domestic stalwarts such as Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur, would easily make the national team cut. Talking about Negi’s surprise selection, he added, “To a lot of people it must have been a surprise, but the selectors had him in mind as a back-up. I’m quite sure he will play the big matches only if someone is injured or not. He is a good talent, and the IPL teams interested in him, justifies that. This is perfect to prepare him for a big occasion.”
“Shami’s inclusion is also justified because he is about 70 % fit, and he has done well for India in the past. A 70 % fit Shami can also be devastating on sub-continental tracks,” he added.
Earlier this year, Irfan Pathan was being touted to make an immediate return, after showcasing brilliant form at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. But, after watching his spells, Roy is not impressed. He said, “To be honest, Irfan is far away from his prime form. I don’t think he deserves a chance in the squad right now.”
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