The Indian Premier League has picked up its pace what with almost three teams asserting a claim to the top four positions. The Royal Challengers Bangalore have portrayed their over-dependence on the trio of Gayle, Kohli and DeVilliers and the easiest way to outplay them would be to send the trio packing, which unfortunately, none of the teams have managed successfully till date.

While they have struggled to find a partner for Gayle throughout the last two seasons, they would finally be relieved to procure the services of Pujara, who returned back from injury with a majestic half-century, an innings that had class and poise stamped all over it. It would have been extremely satisfying for him as he proved to his detractors that he can handle the shorter formats well too.

Pujara’s strength lies mainly in his ability to grind for runs. It is a telling attribute for any youngster and it provides a platform for him to switch gears at the latter stages of the innings, after having got settled. But that is where his weakness lies as well. In the shorter formats, more often than not, players have perished trying to hit the long ball and when it happens for Pujara, it displays his scorecard in a poor light and hence he is labelled only as a test specialist where he has accumulated runs without the fear of run rate or strike rate.

But Pujara is not just a horse for a single course. He could be a Rahul Dravid in one dayers as well, provided he is given a free pass into the Indian team. The team, as it is, has got no berth empty and if Pujara has to push his case, the opening slot would be the best option. But it could be a disaster if he fails to adopt and it is better to wait for the right opportunity rather than just thrusting him the opening position.

Though Pujara has been labelled a good player of spin bowling, there are certain glitches when  it comes to his method of playing a spinner. In the match against Kings XI Punjab, he was clearly struggling to play against Chawla, trying to step out of the crease ball after ball, only to be rapped on the pads. He has been quite unstable against spinners. One could justify this predicament by citing the demands of the shortest format. But it is not the only time that Pujara has left his ground to tackle a spinner.

In all the tests he has played, he has looked a wee bit uncomfortable when the spinners have dropped the ball in the ‘just-short’ area. Unsure of how to tackle the ball, he has tried to step out of his crease and defend, a ploy that has worked for him. But it has cost him his wicket on quite a few occasions as well. In the 18 test innings that he has played, he has fallen nine times to spinners while the other nine comprises of a run out and eight to fast bowlers.

While these stats do not reveal much about his technique against spinners, I feel that he has always been on the tether. His footwork is shaky at the initial stages though he has managed himself well enough along his short journey in the test arena. But his technique would be tested when he goes through a barren patch and he should be well prepared to work his batting technique into a more solid form as the future of Indian cricket lies on his shoulders along with a few others.

The other minor glitch would be his weakness against short pitched stuff. But he has improved on that front and that gives us hope to realise that he is willing to make the necessary changes to suit the needs.

The selection committee has sadly been cold shouldering the Saurashtrian, not acknowledging his exploits in the shortest formats. That is where the IPL would help him to secure a berth in the Indian one day side, now that Yuvraj Singh has been dropped. India needs a solid middle order and having Pujara would definitely boost our chances in the 2015 mega event.

After a mixed start to their campaign this year, things are looking up for the Men in Yellow, especially after they won their previous match against the Kings XI Punjab comprehensively. Termed as the most consistent team in the tournament, Chennai have lots to prove, especially since they boast of a well balanced side which comprises of some top class players of this format.

Knowing Dhoni, he would not be too keen on making too many changes to his winning combination, but one can certainly expect Albie Morkel on the field if he is match fit. Other than that, things are pretty set for them as they have backed the local players to come good season after season, to which the players have adapted and obliged extremely well.

The Pitch and Conditions:

Chennai is traditionally known for its slow wickets that could be a paradise for the spinners. The pitch is generally dry and the team batting first have the added advantage. The previous match that was played here witnessed carnage from two of the biggest hitters in world cricket. The pitch had something for the bowlers but Dhoni and Pollard demonstrated that, with the right amount of application, the bowlers can be manipulated to their whims.

The Key Players:

Suresh Raina: The lad from Uttar Pradesh is well known in this format and his record in the IPL is among the best. Apart from his batting, his fielding has been a boon for Chennai who are blessed with one of the best fielding units in the competition. Being the highest run getter in the history of IPL, Raina bears additional responsibility to carry the batting on his shoulders in the time of crisis.

Michael Hussey: The Australian southpaw is on a purple patch and his availability has boosted the Chennai batting, especially after an untimely injury to Faf Du Plessis. Hussey has already announced his arrival with a half-century in the previous game which saw the team through to a victory. His presence at the top would be crucial to Chennai’s chances in the upcoming games.

R. Ashwin: The wily off spinner from Chennai had an excellent season, especially in the just concluded Test series against Australia. His experience of playing in Chennai would come in handy while facing up to the trio of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers. Ashwin has had success while bowling against Gayle and it wouldn’t be surprising if Ashwin is handed the ball for the first over.

MS Dhoni: The skipper would be crucial to Chennai, especially since his blitzkrieg against Mumbai took Chennai painstakingly close to victory. His performance as skipper, batsman and wicket keeper would have a huge impact on the outcome of the match and a good day at the office for him would mean a good day for Chennai.

The Weak Links:

Subramaniam Badrinath: He has been a vital cog for CSK since the inception of IPL, but his batting form has been poor of late. He has been persisted with for the kind of stability he brings to the table and his presence in the middle order would lend variety to the batting order.

Ankit Rajpoot: The 19-year-old from Uttar Pradesh was clinical in the first match, having had a dream debut by virtue of dismissing Ponting for his maiden wicket. But since that over, he has merely been a passenger in the talent filled Chennai side. His place in the side is under the scanner and it would only be a matter of time before he is dropped. If he gets a chance today, he should grab it with both his hands and make it count.

Possible Eleven:

Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, MS Dhoni (C&Wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Chris Morris/ Albie Morkel, Ankit Rajpoot, Dirk Nannes.

The inclusion of Morkel would mean that Chris Morris would have to go back to the bench. Morkel would be raring to go for his favourite team, of which he has been an integral part since 2008. The Royal Challengers Bangalore are a tough side and their recent emphatic wins over Hyderabad and Kolkata would have boosted their morale. Chennai should be wary of them, especially Gayle and Kohli who have set the batting charts on fire.

The Pune Warriors India:

One of the costliest teams as far as club cricket is concerned and yet they have not managed to set the stage on fire. Having been bought for a whopping 370 million dollars by the Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, the establishment that sponsors the BCCI, PWI has rather been pathetic in its previous ventures. After a dismal season in 2011, a change in captaincy for the next season owing to the incumbent skipper’s untimely illness did not have any effect on their fortunes as they failed to make an impact.

The Subrata Roy stadium, Pune:

The stadium which was previously known as the MCA cricket stadium was rebuilt to match the state of the art infrastructure. It hosted it first IPL match on 8th April 2012 between the Pune Warriors India and Kings XI Punjab. A T20 international match was played between India and England on the 20th of December, 2012 which is the lone international fixture on this venue after its revamp. It has a seating capacity of 55,000.

The fortunes (2011 and 2012)

The Pune Warriors debuted in the IPL with a fancy squad that had Yuvraj Singh as its icon player. Having been termed as the costliest franchise and with a mix of talented players, Pune Warriors India were touted to compete successfully against the top teams. But what unfolded was an eyesore for its fan as it stumbled to make a mark. They finished at the 9th position and the players who were backed to make an impression, came a cropper.

Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2011 and Sourav Ganguly was handed the reins for the 2012 season, hoping that he would be able to replicate his success that he enjoyed while he was heading the Indian contingent. But the team stooped to the bottom as they held the wooden spoon at the end of the season. Ganguly received the flak for his lacklustre leadership skills and the batting that refused to take off.

The expectations

Having purchased a couple of good players at this year’s auctions and with the return of the dangerous Yuvraj Singh, things are looking up for Pune. After Dada’s retirement and Clarke’s ouster from the IPL due to injury, Angelo Mathews has been named the captain of the side ahead of Yuvraj Singh. Whether a new skipper can bring about new fortunes is a question that only time can answer.

The key players

Yuvraj Singh:

Back from a life-threatening illness, Yuvraj would be raring to prove that his form of old has not deserted him yet. Having been unceremoniously dropped from the Indian Test side, he has a point or two to prove to his critics. His explosive form was already exhibited in the T20s against England and Pakistan last year and knowing Yuvraj, he would probably have more sixes up his sleeve.

Marlon Samuels:

The smart right-hander from West Indies is a complete player who can shift gears at will. His exploits in the finals of the 2012 T20 World Cup are well publicized for the kind of impact it had on the match. He is a shrewd thinker of the game and a great presence in the outfield. His presence would boost the fortunes of Pune and he can roll his arm over as well.

Manish Pandey:

The first ever Indian to score a century in the IPL, Pandey’s career has failed to take off after that. His rifts with the board did not help as well. But he has put all that behind him as he eagerly awaits the season to prove that his exploits in the second season were more than luck. A successful season here would open the door to the Indian team in the shorter formats, a thought that he would surely remember before he dons his black jersey.

The team combination

The Batting:

They have a good mix as far as foreign power is concerned. They have secured the services of Luke Wright, a player who can be devastating on his day. He is a utility player as well which adds stability and depth to the side.

The presence of all-rounders in Wayne Parnell, Luke Wright, Marlon Samuels, Abhishek Nayar and Mitchell Marsh augurs well for the bowling department, not to mention the presence of Angelo Mathews, Yuvraj Singh and Steven Smith who are practically game changers on their day.

The Indian duo of Robin Uthappa and Abhishek Nayar add more depth to the batting and their utility as a wicketkeeper and a seamer respectively would come in handy.

The Bowling:

The coming of age of Bhuvneshwar Kumar would strengthen their fast bowling unit and Ashok Dinda is a master class bowler when it comes to being economical.

The spin department would be taken care of by the trio of Ajantha Mendis, Rahul Sharma and Ali Murtaza. Mendis is a wily customer and he would prove handy in any sort of conditions. Rahul Sharma had a mediocre season last year and would like to put all that behind him as he strives to get his place in the Indian team back. Murtaza is a clever bowler who could chip in with a wicket or two at crucial junctures. It is a heady combination that could prove to be the surprise package as far as their bowling is concerned.

The coaching staff:

The coaching staff is experienced enough to guide the team in the right direction and securing Ganguly as an expert advisor is a master stroke. Allan Donald is another person the bowlers can look up to for guidance.

The verdict

The team appears well balanced on paper and the way they perform is going to be the difference between themselves and the others. They would have to pull up their socks and start performing. They are surely the dark horses in this edition. Underestimate them at your own peril!

My playing XI: Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Abhishek Nayar, Yuvraj Singh, Marlon Samuels, Angelo Matthews (C), Steven Smith, Ajantha Mendis, Rahul Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashok Dinda.

Note: I have left out Mitchell Marsh, Wayne Parnell and Luke Wright based on the subcontinent conditions. The team looks well balanced on paper and having these players on the bench adds more strength to the team. They are truly in the competition this season and it would be a treat watching them, especially Yuvraj Singh in action!

The squad: Abhishek Nayar, Ajantha Mendis, Ali Murtaza, Angelo Mathews, Anustup Majumdar, Ashoke Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dheeraj Jadhav, Eklavya Dwivedi, Harpreet Singh, Ishwar Pandey, Kane Richardson, Krishnakant Upadhyay, Luke Wright, Mahesh Rawat, Manish Pandey, Marlon Samuels, Mitchell Marsh, Mithun Manhas, Parveez Rasool, Rahul Sharma, Raiphi Gomez, Robin Uthappa (Wk), Ross Taylor, Shrikant Wagh, Steve Smith, Tirumalasetti Suman, Tamim Iqbal, Udit Birla, Yuvraj Singh and Wayne Parnell

That Sourav Ganguly is a man of words is a known fact. He expresses himself in his own inimitable fashion both on and off the field. It has drawn both criticisms and appreciation in the past. He has been unique in his approach towards his game. Maybe these are the obvious reasons for his fame and popularity even after all this while.

I am not going to question the laurels and the glory he has won for this country based on one incident. But, if truth be told, he has not comprehended the art of being an ex-cricketer. For starters, any public man should look before he leaps, should think before he utters. Ganguly has not mastered that art and it is pathetic to see him mince words. It is not like him, though his actions have suggested otherwise.

It isn’t the first time. Last year when India was going through a rough patch, Ganguly went about analyzing the scenario almost comically. During the Australian series, when India was being mauled by the opponents, Ganguly was quick to point out the “supposed” flaws in Dhoni’s captaincy commenting on how he would have approached the scenario in a different fashion. He even suggested a change in captaincy and felt that Sehwag would be better suited for the role.

He did not stop there. During the IPL, when Harbhajan was leading the Mumbai Indians, Dada felt that being one of the seniors in the team Harbhajan should be looked at as a captaincy prospect. It was quite hilarious, to be honest. Supporting Harbhajan’s ascension to captaincy when he was not even playing for the side seemed ridiculous and preposterous. When it seemed that Ganguly’s acumen could sink now lower, he dropped a bomb by backing Gambhir after his victorious IPL campaign.

In a nutshell – Ganguly is losing his cricketing acumen.

Though Ganguly has umpteen reasons to hate the current Indian skipper, he couldn’t have made his feelings more transparent. His indirect jibes at Dhoni, not to mention his absurd captaincy theories have managed to earn him more critics than fans.

Dada has a history of being the focal point of a ruckus many times in the past. Be it his shirt removing “take-it-back-Flintoff” moment, or in the Test series against Australia in 2001 when he allegedly turned up late for the toss, or the insane duel between himself and Greg Chappell, it has rendered spice and a new dimension to his persona on the whole.

“It would be wrong to assume that there are no inputs from Dhoni in selection matters. If a captain asks for a particular player, it is difficult for the selectors to say no. So I believe there were inputs from Dhoni even if he may not attend selection meetings,” - Sourav Ganguly

The latest fiasco when Ganguly suggested that Dhoni had a hand in Sehwag’s sacking has created ripples in the cricketing fraternities. Frankly, if Mickey Arthur hadn’t interfered with his ridiculous “homework policy”, the Ganguly issue would have gathered more mileage.

I could provide the obvious reasons for Sehwag’s exclusion. But if I could gather as much evidence, being nobody, then I wonder why he hasn’t pondered about his statement before uttering them. Maybe he is losing his touch, assuming that his “followers” are ready to lap up all the nonsense that he recites. At least he could have respected the man who gave him a chance to captain in his last Test. I mean, not all captains would do that for you, no matter what the situation.

The other part of this mess reflects my beliefs on why he shouldn’t be appointed as the coach of the national team. The most obvious reason would be favouritism. The seniors of today’s Indian team were once his prodigies. His hand in their success is well-known and many seniors are still grateful to him for lending them a ‘helping hand’. Therefore his presence in the dressing room would tend to complicate his rationality. His partial outlook towards the seniors would jeopardize the position of better qualified players, an unhealthy atmosphere that is not required in the Indian team.

“I am very surprised at his exclusion. If Sachin (Tendulkar) and Dhoni who have been struggling with their respective forms can be persisted with, then what’s wrong with Sehwag?” – Sourav Ganguly

As an ex-cricketer and captain, he is responsible for his statements and though he has clarified his stance, he needs to refrain from making unnecessary comments. This is not the first time that he has criticized both Tendulkar and Dhoni. Having partnered Tendulkar for a long time and been in Dhoni’s proverbial shoes before him, he should be able to sympathize with the predicaments of his ex-team mates.

As his fan, I would like to remind him that whatever you do, whatever you say, people listen to you. They believe you after all this long and they trust you to come up with the right answers every time you speak. Your opinions bear gravity and repercussions. It is better to let the hot coffee on the table, instead of hurting your cavity!

Peering at the Indian team line-up for the past twenty four years and feasting our eyes on Tendulkar’s name has become quite customary for a passionate Indian cricket fan. A substantial percentage of the audience from this generation has grown up alongside the cricketing career of Sachin.

The first thing I would inquire about an ongoing Indian match, if I do not have the luxury to catch it live, would be the state of the man called ‘Sachin Tendulkar’. If he has not fallen yet, then it is good news for me or else I would think about spending the rest of the evening annoyed. Victory or defeat has seldom mattered when compared to the performance of Sachin. As a die-hard Sachinist, I would gladly take a defeat if it comes along with the ‘Sachin century‘ tag.

His charm is irresistible to even players of the calibre as Ricky Ponting puts it, “Sachin was the best I played against, and that’s coming from more of a captain’s point of view as well, knowing he had so much success against us in our conditions and their conditions.” And the manner in which he has captained the ship called “Indian cricket” suggests that he is more than just a player who wields a bat. In fact, he is a saviour who has been the epitome of success, talent, charm, grace and any other endowment that you wish to bestow upon him. Wherever you turn, there are people talking about Tendulkar, the runs that he scored or predicting his future, his off-field demeanour and much more. But Sachin has been humble about his achievements. These qualities make us behold, revere, admire and worship him.

His grit and determination even as a youngster caught the attention of the public as he waged a lone battle against all odds, after the retirement of the seniors. There was a time when India’s hopes would completely depend on the outcome of Sachin’s stay in the middle. And for the better part, he did not disappoint us.

Remember his blitzkrieg in Chennai, the unleashing of a monster in Sharjah or the circumspect Sachin who commanded a fan following in Sydney? – that is just a tiny portion of the humongous pile of accolades that he has garnered along the years. To say that Indian cricket had its golden era in his period would be an understatement. He was the brand ambassador of the game as he strove to take the game to every nook and corner of the country. The amount of frenzy that cricket generates today is largely due to the heroics of this man on the field.

In a nut shell – he has dedicated his life to cricket.

Things are not hunky-dory at present though, what with the dreaded age catching up with him and proving that he is a mere mortal and not a proverbial ‘god’. Frankly speaking, it is the only Achilles’ heel that could hinder Sachin’s romance with cricket. Like every other legend that has graced the game, Sachin has to face his swansong someday. Though legends are made of tough material, they cannot go on forever.

That is why the timing of hanging up his boots is so crucial. He needs to pacify his ardent supporters even as he strives to answer his critics with performances. Every minute detail will be put under the scanner since this is a rare phenomenon that is being discussed here. The question that should be tagged along here is “When should he retire?” Should it be at the end of 2014 or after the South African series later this year? Or will he carry on till 2015? Frankly, as a diehard fan, I would advise him to do so after the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. Now, you Sachinists – do not be prejudiced before scrutinizing the current scenario. I have been thinking about this before the commencement of this series and there could not be a better time for Tendulkar to pull the curtains down.

Australia is in dire straits. Having been completely outplayed in the first two Tests, they are facing a whitewash, what with the form of the Australian batsman waning with every passing hour. They are completely clueless and their bowling is in shambles. India are well on their way to avenging their defeats last year.

Having been a part of that fateful series in 2012, Sachin would have felt the pain of the humiliation against Australia. Though India did not have enough weapons in the armoury to defeat Australia in Australia, they would have never imagined a whitewash. At last, revenge is being served, nice and cold, in India and Sachin has played his part with a brilliant knock of 81 and a useful cameo in the first Test to close out the match in our favour.

There are quite a few straightforward reasons for why he should retire after the current series. To begin with, his form, though he scored a composed half century in the first Test, has been on the wane since the World Cup. His reflexes are not what they used to be. His departure could help the team rebuild for the future.

Between now and the tour to South Africa, his schedule does not include any international fixture. It is a long enough time and batsmen tend to get rusty if they don’t keep playing. Having given up the shorter formats, he cannot expect his form to stay with him.

Moreover, India will most definitely white wash Australia. There is no better time to bow out than this. Having a whitewash as your farewell series would be extremely satisfying for a man of Tendulkar’s stature. He would be proud to call this series as his last one and a couple of good scores in the last two Tests could make it a worthy goodbye.

Critics’ general argument when it comes to his retirement includes the fact that his expertise would be required when India tours a country like South Africa. He could enlighten the youngsters on the conditions and help the captain in developing strategies. But India has already lost Dravid, Laxman, Gambhir, Harbhajan, Sehwag and Zaheer to injuries and retirement. If their absence can be handled by India, I believe that Sachin’s absence could be well covered by the youngsters and a crucial tour as such would help them in building confidence over the years. Remember, it was England that gave birth to the talents called Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. Shielding and shepherding the youngsters won’t help their career, it is better for them to face the situation.

The series is almost in the bag and tarrying anymore is not going to benefit the future of Indian cricket. Having been the guiding source of the team for more than two decades, he wouldn’t want to bear the tag of “asphyxiating the progress” of the team. Time is ripe and yes, it is time to act tough!

Lions hunt in packs and so do wolves. There is another set of beings that hunt together as a pair – the ex-Indian openers; Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. It is on a sad note that I phrased them as ‘the ex-Indian openers’ since the impact they have had on Indian cricket cannot be quite defined. They carried the Indian batting on their shoulders for more than two years with their explosive partnerships that helped India in reaching the coveted number one position in Tests. Though that partnership is now defunct, their achievements would continue to be the benchmark for the future generations.

The tale of the pair begins on a bright note. Emerging from the same state, Sehwag and Gambhir complemented each other to absolute perfection. Gambhir appreciates the whims of Sehwag and Sehwag in turn understands how to travel along with the southpaw. Their association goes back to the year 2004, when Gambhir was selected for an important series against South Africa. They made immediate impact as they tore into the fiery South African bowling line up that included Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock. Gambhir (96 runs) was unlucky to miss out on a well-deserved hundred but the history was set in motion on that day when they reached the double-century partnership (218 runs).

There is a reason why I believe that they have complemented each other capably. It stems from the various styles that they employ while batting. While Gambhir is more of a grafter, Sehwag is the kind of batsman who goes hammer and tongs against the opposition. Gambhir has mentioned about the “Sehwag-Advantage” in numerous interviews. He states that having Sehwag blasting his way on the other end keeps the onus away from him and he finds that relaxing while trying to settle in. The right-left combination helps as well. Sehwag, on the hand believes that Gambhir is the best opener since Gavaskar to have played for India. The mutual respect they possess has enhanced their camaraderie and it has transformed into performances for the team.

Probably their association gathered steam in the year 2008. Gambhir, after his initial burst meandered away into the oblivion, before making a comeback in 2007. That is when his association with Sehwag grew into something significant. The series against Sri Lanka in 2008 when India were mauled by the spin-duo of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan saw the coming together of Gambhir and Sehwag successfully.

After the defeat in the first Test, Gambhir and Sehwag put on a determined fight to score 167 runs for the first wicket. Sehwag was the chief contributor once again as he scored a magnificent double century. Gambhir was solid in his approach as he played the role of an anchor to perfection. It spared the Indians from humiliation as they fought back to win the match by a respectable margin. The interesting aspect of this partnership includes the fact that they scored more than half of the total runs scored.

The strength of their combination has aided India in their quest for domination. They have put India on the driver’s seat whenever they have fired, an aspect which was lacking for India in the past. Boasting of a world class middle-order, the only shortcoming of Indian batting order was the fragile opening slot. Many candidates were experimented before Gambhir and Sehwag.

The partnership blossomed very much after their heroics at Galle. England was their next target. Chennai is known to be a favourite hunting ground for Sehwag, what with the mammoth triple century that he scored against South Africa. Though this knock wasn’t as monumental as that, it carried more significance based on the context of the match. Chasing 387 for a win, and having only four sessions in hand, the opening duo strode out to accomplish the task that was considered impossible and risky. An early wicket could have shifted the momentum in the favour of England and Dravid’s form wasn’t an encouraging factor as well.

Gambhir was in a purple patch and it showed when he drove a half-volley through the covers to initiate the proceedings. It was Sehwag’s turn after that as he massacred the English bowlers for his score of 83. It came in quick time and Gambhir was equally fearless as he scored 66. That partnership turned the game around in our favour as the winning runs was gracefully marked with a Sachin ton.

It was probably after the South Africa tour in 2010/11, that the script started falling apart. The openers were fraught with injuries and their separation reduced their success rate considerably. Gambhir was battling injuries constantly and Sehwag was worse in comparison. He had lost his Midas touch by then and was visibly lacking the zeal to perform.

The England series in 2011 was their next assignment together. But they weren’t lucky enough to partner each other for long as Sehwag was out with an injury for the first half and Gambhir in the second. Their captaincy aspirations and the rift between themselves and Dhoni obstructed them from performing well.

In the two years since that fateful Test in South Africa, India has lacked a solid contribution from the top of the order. It has cost the team heavily. Gambhir lost his ‘I-grind-like-Dravid-to-score-runs ‘avatar that saw him rising to become number one ranked player in Tests. Sehwag lost his belligerence as he failed to terrorize the opponents as was his nature in the past. Since then, they have not managed a single noteworthy partnership.

Gambhir was the first one to be sacked after the selectors ran out of patience. He was dropped from the series against Australia and Sehwag was axed after being persisting with in two more Tests. The pair that swore to break all the records seem in dire straits as both the players are stranded at the crossroads of their career.

Gambhir could play for India if he decides to pull up his socks and perform but it is a completely different case with Sehwag. He is nearing 34 and his stroke making is not all what it used to be. He is clearly struggling to cope with international cricket and the selectors have merely put him out of his misery.

Though they have faded away, their impact on the Indians fans can’t be emulated by any other opening pair. They have provided us with immense joy and it was amazing to behold their camaraderie both on and off the field. Indian cricket would definitely miss the experience of these stalwarts as the selectors have decided to look past experience.

The selectors cannot be blamed since Sehwag and Gambhir were the root cause of their own downfall. They were callous and they took their place for granted. They would definitely be regretting their mistake, but time has run out on them. Whatever the future might hold for them, it is the combined contribution of them as a pair that was vital for India’s performance as a team and the World Cup victory. Their hard work would definitely be recognized and they would go down in history books as one of the great opening combinations to have ever materialized in the game. Take a bow!

Virender Sehwag in all his glory was portrayed as the successor to the Little Master, for the charm he exuded and the aggression in his armoury that resembled that of Sachin’s. Most of all, the upper cut and the leg glance, the two shots that bore the trademark of Tendulkar flew from the bat of Sehwag as well, putting Sehwag on par with the Master. But in hindsight, he did not possess the fire in his belly to stay at the highest level – a trick he failed to inherit.

The strength of Sehwag is his ability to take the attack to the opposition in spite of the situation. Be it the first ball, or the last ball, he does not give a damn about conditions and the pitch as he has invariably followed the “see the ball, hit the ball” mantra to great effect. Flair and flamboyance has been both his companion and nemesis as far as his career is concerned. They say “your strength is your curse” and it couldn’t be truer for Sehwag.

The career of Sehwag was a roller-coaster ride. Coming in to the team as a middle-order batsman, he took giant strides to achieve the kind of success that he boasts of today. The 195 at Melbourne and the 201 at Galle that came in hostile conditions spoke volumes of his unique talent. He did not possess textbook footwork and his technique was always under the scanner. Yet, he managed to carve a niche in the talent-filled Indian team, plainly due to the aggression factor.

Then one might wonder, what happened to a career that had really taken off and anointed him as one of the best opening batsmen that India has ever produced? Is it the lack of technique? Is it the lack of footwork? Those aspects suggest the mere lack of technicality. But his predicament contains more hard facts in them.

“What I soon learned about him was that Viru did not want to dedicate himself to taking his talent to its zenith. He was happy to turn up and play and accept what came his way. No amount of cajoling from me could shift him from his insouciant way.” – Greg Chappell, former Indian coach.

The fact that Sehwag was reluctant to put in the hard yards suggests the amount of callousness and inadvertence in his approach.  Greg Chappell had time and again praised the natural talent that he possessed and stressed on the importance to hone his skills. Sehwag’s attitude though is much like the swagger in his walk and the carelessness in his approach. In a nutshell, he had a poor work-ethic.

But apart from all the shortcomings, he had the queer habit of making huge scores whenever he was in form. He has never spared any bowler, nor seemed fearful of any. Having practised cricket mostly on cement wickets, Sehwag has the knack of bludgeoning the ball through the celebrated ‘V’. The body alignment was perfect and so was his ‘hand-eye’ coordination. He came across as a player who was in the mould of a pinch –hitter, though his scores suggest otherwise.

His exploits in New Zealand are well known for the kind of impact they had, especially when he resurrected the team from shambles. He was dauntless as he launched an attack on the New Zealand bowlers and almost led India to a victory. Then he followed it up with his bravado in Australia and West Indies and the selfless effort in Galle. People felt that this new version of Sehwag was here to stay. He was hailed by the public and was a frontrunner to bag the role of skipper, post Dravid’s tenure.

But fate had other plans as Dhoni won the race and Sehwag was sidelined. It was cruel, and the fact that Dhoni dropped Sehwag in the finals of the World T20, 2007 adds more salt to the injury. An enmity was born, perhaps unknown to the fans.

Meanwhile, Sehwag was carrying the team on his shoulders with terrific performances that included a triple century and a host of other big scores. He had a beautiful chemistry with Gambhir that converted their on-field performances to something extraordinary. The team was on a roll as they slowly worked their way up to the top. India was on the brink of world domination and the form seemed authentic. They finally achieved the dream of being the world number one side against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, 2009.

But amidst the well written script, there were a couple of flaws that kept creeping up and the dam of uncertainties began to widen. India won the World Cup and the credits were bagged by the skipper. It did not go down well with Sehwag and a few of his supporters in the team.

Sehwag lost his form and the charm that he carried along with him. The runs began to dry up and the chinks in his armoury began to show itself. India lost its winning capabilities as they were mauled by England.  Sehwag’s presence went without a notice as he notched up consecutive ducks.

From then onwards, the slide in his career was imminent as he was unable to score consistently. He was an utter failure in Australia without a single century. He was dropped for the subsequent Asia cup, before he made one of his many comebacks in the World T20. The differences in opinion between him and the skipper were visible as he was made to warm the bench on more than one occasion.

The rift between himself and his skipper affected his batting as he lost his magic touch. The hand and eye coordination was nowhere to be seen as he struggled to put bat to ball. Barring a lone century against England on placid conditions, Sehwag’s score was a poor reflection of his career as a swashbuckling opening batsman who held enviable world records to his name.

He has been dropped out of the team once again, but this time it might well be his swansong. He is not getting any younger and it is clearly implied by the latest bespectacled look. His career has had lot of stop-gaps in the past, but he has bounced back with more fervour and courage. But he was young then and had the backing of the seniors. The rift with the skipper might have well closed the door on him and the skipper is not being blamed on this occasion.

The reason for Sehwag’s current predicament is Sehwag himself. His lackadaisical attitude and the loss of form have earned him many a critic and they are not too happy with his current form. The selection committee is certainly overlooking the seniors as they are planning on building a new look Indian side.

The next series is far away and having lost his place in the limited overs side already, Sehwag does not stand a chance to make the cut for the South Africa series. Moreover, the general feeling is that Sehwag doesn’t want to change his attitude or his way of batting as he has said in countless interviews, “I would not change my natural style of batting”. That has been the bane of him as he looks at the end of his career. One of the selectors who were responsible for his sacking mentioned that his form outside the subcontinent has been pathetic for awhile now and reasons that “It is unlikely that you are going to pick a batsman looking at what he has done five years ago. Would you?”

Well, it is hard to disagree with him!

The answer to this query lies in an inconsequential match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, 2009. The players in question were Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, who were playing for Bangalore, and JP Duminy, who was wielding the bat for Mumbai. Kallis ran in hard and bowled a good length ball that seamed off the surface and beat the bat of Duminy. The cold stare that he offered Duminy in return was filled with venom and hatred for the man who refused to fall for the bait. Though they would have had a laugh about it later, I am sure; the intensity exhibited by Kallis indicated that he meant business. The current predicament of the ‘gentleman’s game’ has not changed one bit even with the advent of the Indian Premier League, or so to speak.

There are quite a few altercations that has grabbed headlines in the recent times. It has brought a snort to people’s expression whenever they hear that IPL is actually helping the progress of Indian cricket, or cricket as a whole, to be precise. Here are few of the famous altercations that tells a story of the existence of the fire in the belly that is still left in cricket and the actual meaning of the ‘player-camaraderie’ that the author has mentioned in his above article (see link).

Take that you $*#%^

Rewinding a year back, prior to the above incident, no one could have forgotten the well-publicized ‘slap-gate’ incident that two of our own players were involved in. It brought down the image of Indian cricket, and it happened owing to either Sreesanth’s mediocrity as a player or Harbhajan’s ‘arm of seniority’. These are just the tip of the mountain when compared to the other scandals that have shaken the base of cricket. Well, three Pakistanis form the crux of that mountain. Redundant. Not worth discussing. Period.

The ‘welcome’ India speech

The much-advertised and much-improved relationship between India and Pakistan has gathered a lot of attention, especially after the generous invitation that the Pakistanis extended us before departing home. But the bottom line of the generosity includes the fact that Pakistan is starved of international action since the attack in 2009. If being generous would bring back international cricket to their country, then it is only a minimum price to pay. Each person has a motive for every action of his; therefore Pakistan cannot be blamed for their act of ‘self-preservation’.

The Delhi ‘Devilry’

To be frank, the intensity of the sledges have not gone down, but have transformed into a much simpler form, where simply a stare can do the trick. Mahela Jayawardene, Kevin Pietersen and Virender Sehwag might have been joined at the hip since they played together for Delhi, but no one can forget the ugly spat between Sehwag and Dilshan on the ‘no-ball issue’. Both parties failed to clear the air, therefore whether the cat fight was initiated on the benches of IPL are only known to the people involved.

Sri Lankans, though portrayed as the friendly neighbours, have not so been friendly with their counterparts from around the world. The spat between Jayawardene, Perera and Glenn Maxwell grabbed headlines a couple of months back, when Perera ‘allegedly’ delayed bowling the ultimate ball, which in turn cost Australia the match. It was fuelled by the presence of another ‘Daredevil’, Warner who was reluctant to forgive the insolent behaviour of his fellow teammate from Delhi.

‘Oppa Gangnam Style’

Then, there is the queer ‘Gangnam celebration’ that the West Indies have employed. Though it could be classified as meaningless banter by critics, the batsman who is the victim wouldn’t be amused one bit.

Clarke – The crowd puller

Clarke’s animated actions, on the other hand, might have kept the audience glued to him, but let’s not forget that they do have to please the Indian crowds and their IPL bosses so that their tenure in IPL can be pleasant. Indian crowd are biased. You sow what you reap, and it is better to be in their good books – a thought which Clarke seems to have grabbed with ingenuity.

Shove it right in the face, Warnie

The mother of all these spats from recent times would definitely be the one between Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels. It got so ugly that the Australian board had to intervene and make an issue out of it. Shane Warne had to retire ‘finally’ (that is definitely a happy thought for the English!). The sudden spark between them caused some major excitement in the game, and victory was not just a matter of filling a column any more. It was about pride.

And then there is Michael Vaughan. Period.

At the end of it all…

Though I have tabulated the presence of sledging in cricket even to this date, it is not a bad thing after all. Anything within the limits would be fine, and it just adds a bit of spice to the encounter, which makes the game even crisper. The friendships are left behind, before stepping on the ground. On the ground, these are just players with trivial human emotions that surge out of them, what with the adrenaline coursing through their bodies during a high-pressure game.

But whatever happens, at the end of it all, the players concerned should consider this as a part of the game. They should realize that it is not personal, and that’s what the handshake is for, right? No grudges. No hard feelings.

The class, the elegance and the grace of Laxman for example, has been portrayed in countless tributes since his valiant knock in 2001. There was one other player who was perceived to be the doppelganger of Laxman based on his attributes and in the manner in which he approached the game. Silkiness and poise are two attributes that one can associate with Thilan Samaraweera.

Samaraweera, who was originally an off-spin bowler, did not gather much recognition due to the presence of an established spinner in the side. Being a bowling all-rounder didn’t help. He had to endure the ignorance for a while before he finally got the opportunity to make his debut.

The debut series was a disaster for him, as he was deemed vulnerable against talented bowlers. It was a while before he was handed a Test cap against India, precisely three years after his initial burst. It wasn’t a walk in the park as he had to hone his batting skills and make his comeback as a middle-order batsman.

He made an immediate impact and his presence was welcomed largely due to the crumbling middle-order. The void left behind by the batting giants, Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga, was showing, as the Sri Lankan middle-order was adjudged weak and wanting. He added the much needed stability to the side, exhibiting his skills as an accumulator who could bat along with the tail-enders.

The elegance in his batting was visibly pleasing as he scored his maiden Test century against India. It came under tough conditions, batting against the might of Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath. His batting was a sight to behold.  At his sublime best, it was a pleasure to watch him against the spinners as he had ‘text-book’ footwork and impeccable timing in his repertoire.

Together with Sangakkara and Jayawardene, he formed the crux of the Sri Lankan middle-order. His arrival meant that Sri Lanka had more batting force than the past, as he proved vital in holding the middle-order together. Though he has been over shadowed by his team-mates, he had carved a niche for himself as the solid block in the Sri Lankan batting. If Sangakkara was known for his charm, Jayawardene for his class, Samaraweera excelled in shepherding the batting in a dogged fashion.

The testing times in his career were in the year 2009. He had a splendid season scoring back-to-back double centuries against Pakistan, not to mention the world record partnership of 411 runs with Mahela Jayawardene. Finally, he had achieved the status of a regular player in the side, when destiny had other plans for him.

The Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan players that shook the whole world, had an effect on Samaraweera. He was hit by a bullet on the left thigh and had to undergo an operation, which kept him out of action for more than two months. It wasn’t any common injury, and men made of stronger mantle would have been shaken by the attack. But Samaraweera inspired a brave comeback to the Test fold and proved to the world that his life could still go on after what had transpired.

Similar to Laxman, his one day career never took off due to the label he earned as a Test player; even though he obtained an opportunity to cement his place in 2009. Playing against New Zealand under lights, Samaraweera managed to score a fine century. The interesting attribute of this knock included the fact that he was the lone player to cross the half-century mark. His credentials as a Test player came to the fore as he played a measure knock to outwit the opponents.

But his career sunk low due to his inconsistency and the inability to score quickly. On the hindsight, he was much similar to a Laxman, who played at number six in the Tests and had a poor one day career. There are enough similarities between the two  that would sound clichéd and redundant now.

The greatest shortcoming of his would refer to the fact that he had seldom been successful outside the subcontinent. As a player on the defensive mode, he let the lack of technique against the fast bowlers torment him time and again. The fact that he has scored only two centuries outside the subcontinent in hostile conditions (both against South Africa in 2011-12) does not justify his talent as one of the greatest middle-order batsmen to have emerged from the island nation.

Yet, he stood rock-solid for the team whenever it had required its service. He has been dropped yet again for the tour in Bangladesh. Sri Lankan cricket has not realized the importance of the meticulous old predator as they are looking to build a team for future. This time he has decided to hang his boots as he deemed the fight not worthy.

“I was shocked with my omission from the squad against Bangladesh. There was no point in waiting for nine months. I respect the decision of the selectors to go with young players and decided it was the right time for me to retire.” – Thilan Samaraweera.

The sacking hurt him, and yet as a team player, he has looked at the prospect of the betterment of Sri Lankan cricket. He is definitely a cricketer who could take both victory and defeat in his stride. A true servant of the game, Samaraweera’s services would be sorely missed by the lions as they are looking forward to a tough season ahead. The void would definitely show itself in the near future, and Sri Lanka needs to ensure that they have indeed taken the right decision on his account. A player of Samaraweera’s class is hard to find and they would do better to ensure that the transformation is true and flawless.

Looking back on his career, he would definitely be disappointed for not scoring more runs, but he would definitely be satisfied with what he has achieved as a cricketer, and it would be a joy to reminisce all the good times he had with Sri Lankan cricket.

Michael Clarke and Co. have some soul-searching to do.

When was the last time that Australia crumbled without putting up a fight? Honestly, they have accepted defeat rather than giving the opponents a run for their money. The will to fight back – a trait that Australia always boasts of – was completely missing, and the swagger in their step was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe it is the lack of talent that has put the Australians in this predicament, but looking at the way they have approached the game, one has to wonder why they are still stuck in T20 mode. Back in 2001, when Australia produced champion cricketers, the scenario was completely different. India was hailed for restricting the advance of the Aussies in our backyard, which goes to suggest the kind of domination they had over their rivals.

The Border-Gavaskar series definitely did not create the kind of impact that it was expected to. Australia has not realized the importance of winning this series. They are letting India have their revenge without any fuss and it is quite embarrassing, to be honest. Maybe they have resigned themselves to their fate, having understood that they do not have the necessary fire power in their armoury.

The lack of a genuine spin bowler in their ranks has tormented them in the last couple of matches, as they have finally realized the importance of having a Shane Warne in their team. Maybe they could have seriously considered the option of waking the old horse from his slumber. He would have definitely had more success than his successors.

The more pressing problem, though, has been the decline in form of the batsmen. The Australians, in general, were renowned for the tremendous talent they possessed in their ranks. Being more than just Test players, they possessed the art of playing as team and  had players who were remarkably versatile.

Shane Watson’s form has been a major worry for the Australians

The Australian batting consists of a number of newcomers, and a majority of players are still taking baby steps in international cricket. It is hard to imagine their batting order that consists of five new faces has failed them so miserably, not to mention the current form of Shane Watson.

“As an all-rounder, he could pretty much walk into any side, but purely as a batsman he goes into a bigger pool and that makes his selection difficult.” – Michael Clarke.

Matthew Hayden had an average of over 50 and Justin Langer had an average of more than 45. It was the solidity in the top order that kept them afloat in the olden days. But Warner, though he has an average over 40, fails to impress as a Test player as he tries to play too many shots from the beginning. Ed Cowan, on the other hand, is just doing enough to kindle the expectations of the fans, but flatters to deceive in the end. His knock of 44 in his last outing was not fluent at all. He struggled to battle the spinners and misjudged the length on more than one occasion.

The middle order does not even merit a mention. Phil Hughes seemed to have forgotten to carry his form from the West Indies series, and the chinks in his batting have been put on public display. The only saving grace was their skipper Michael Clarke, who played a few captain’s knocks, though no one possessed the courage to follow in his footsteps.

Looking at the things as they are, Clarke would just have to shift a couple of positions up the order to lend stability to the top order. He himself has commented that he is contemplating the move. That means that Shane Watson could wrangle a chance to open the batting, and the casualty would definitely be Phil Hughes. Usman Khawaja would finally procure an opportunity to showcase his skills now that Australia have nothing left to lose.

No major changes can be made in the bowling department, except for a bit of soul-searching after the thorough beating they received at the hands of the Indian batsmen. At the end of the day, all they can do is “hold their head high and claim that they have done their best” like Steve Waugh commented in the 2001 series. The spinners could take a leaf out of Ashwin’s book and try and replicate his performances, though it is easier said than done.

Tinkering with the batting order is going to unsettle the young batsmen, but it is time for them to put the uncertainties behind and look to play positively. The callousness in their approach should be dealt with severely. Instead of looking to take the Indian bowlers on, the batsmen should concentrate on consolidating and be circumspect in their approach.

As a cricket aficionado, it is heart-breaking to see the current state of Australian cricket. They are replicating the West Indies team who fell from grace after the retirements of their star players. That should not be the case with Australia, as they are managing to hold on to the aura that their former players bequeathed. It is slowly fading away with every passing match, and it would take more than one lion-hearted skipper to stop the free-fall.

Foreword:

To begin with, Rohit has indeed been a player to watch out for in the past. As a young talent, he manufactured a reputation for himself in the domestic circuit with some breath-taking performances that defied logic. His exploits in the third season of the Indian Premier League, when he single-handedly led the Deccan Chargers to the last four, just about compiles his talent in a nutshell.

The essence of his batting is the technical stability that he possesses. Somehow, he has obtained the knack of predicting the line and length a fraction of a second before other batsmen, an attribute for which Inzamam-ul-Haq was famous.

The beginning:

The first time Rohit Sharma was thrust into the limelight was the time he played in the U-19 World Cup. Very few batsmen were known for the class they exuded even at that tender age, and he was taken under the wings of the BCCI for grooming soon after.

His progress was imminent as he made a mark in the T20 World Cup in 2007. Rohit oozed the confidence of a mature batsman even in his debut tournament. It was heartening to see him play the pull shot with disdain, and the slog that was ballistic in nature. More than the shots, it was the manner in which he executed them that deserve a mention. He had a cool head and almost-perfect timing, as the ball kept finding the sweet spot of the bat.

The rise to stardom:

The Commonwealth Bank series in 2008 was a turning point in his career. After a successful outing at the World cup, Rohit received a call-up to the national side and was handed a debut in the 50-over format. Rohit did not disappoint. He carried on his form from the World Cup, as he scored two brilliant half-centuries to assist India in their victory. Sachin was mightily impressed with this young lad from his own state, and remarked that he had never seen a batsman so glorious on the field.

“Moments, when lost, can’t be found again. They’re just gone.”

Rohit Sharma is the commentator’s favourite child. Whenever he gets going, commentators love to build up on his talent and the ‘lazy elegance’ that he seems to possess. The number of adjectives they have used while describing him have been quite amusing. These very adjectives tend to be the reasons for Rohit to become the laughing stock the moment he loses his integrity as a batsman. To sum up, his career lost its sheen after the initial burst, and he was left to languish on the domestic circuit. He dissipated the chances he received, and made a mess of his name.

The friendly nemesis that overtook him:

Meanwhile, the meteoric rise of teammate Virat Kohli was in progress, as Kohli went on to capture hearts with a much-improved work-ethic, forgetting his swagger and the unkempt body language. Let’s not forget that it was Rohit and not Virat who was touted as the ‘next big thing’ in cricket.

Kohli did have his issues, alright, but he chose to put those behind him and concentrate on the task at hand. On the other hand, Rohit has been content to go with the flow. That was absolutely frustrating and the fact that he has not bothered to give it a thought is outrageous.

Maybe the predicament of Kohli and Rohit could have been altered in the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2012. Having failed in the first two Tests, Kohli was not making headlines for the right reasons. The fans vociferously supported the inclusion of Sharma ahead of Kohli in the third Test. Ultimately, it was Kohli who made the cut, and from then on he hasn’t looked back. Maybe, if Rohit was selected ahead of Kohli, we wouldn’t have known Kohli as we do now.

The World Cup debacle:

“At 42, I am fitter than you!”

– Gary Kirsten (referring to Rohit Sharma)

After the disastrous tour to West Indies, where India was completely outplayed in every department in the World T20 in 2010, Kirsten didn’t mince his words while questioning the fitness and work-ethic of Rohit Sharma. Nothing could have been more humiliating for a youngster. Kirsten was visibly frustrated to see Rohit squandering his chances at the highest level, with the amount of talent he possessed.

The missing ‘talent’:

Talent is a curse. If you succeed, the talent factor would be praised; if you fail, then people would point a finger at your lack of application. The backing of the skipper was even more absurd, and Dhoni was criticized for picking Rohit time and again after the failures. Maybe Dhoni agreed with the critics when they said that Rohit was the ‘next big thing’ in cricket. This statement was issued six years back, and after all these years Rohit is still ‘on the verge’ of fulfilling his talent.

The new lease of life as an opener:

In the One Day series against England this year, Rohit was included as the opening batsman in the fourth ODI due to the expulsion of Sehwag and the poor form of Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit did not disappoint. He was off the mark with a glorious pull-shot that impressed the critics and the audience alike. He was the epitome of grace and poise as he scored 83 runs.  It would have boosted his confidence definitely. He should start contemplating his career as an opener forthwith.

The critics were at it once again, praising Sharma for the excellent wrists, the footwork, and what not. It is his bane, if truth be told. Rohit Sharma should not be deceived by the flattery and should look to rectify his mistakes, rather than living on the positives.

The ‘tick-tock’ rival:

Though Rohit has a poor One Day record, his fans are crazy enough to compare him with Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj Singh did have lesser runs after playing the same number of games as Rohit, but Indian cricket wasn’t a crowded place during his time. He had the freedom to settle into the team, which Rohit lacks, and Rohit needs to ensure that every move of his counts from this point, be it in the IPL or a One Day game, or even a relatively unimportant domestic match.

The latest string of poor scores have put him down. It is going to prove difficult for Sharma to make a comeback into the Test team since the Indian team is looking quite settled. Rohit would have to bide his time at least till the completion of the South African series, and that is way too long, to be honest. Time is running out, with him being on the wrong end of twenty-five years.

“Michael Hussey made his debut at 30. Doesn’t mean I want to start my Test career so late. But I am only 25 now. I know my time will come.”

– Rohit Sharma

He might look at his dropping with a positive attitude. But looking at things as they are, it is nigh impossible for Rohit to make the Indian Test team in the near future. He might be on the fringes of selection in the limited overs squad, but Test cricket is going to be a distant dream for the youngster.

Epilogue:

The Indian team does not need a Rohit Sharma at present. Maybe he will obtain a chance in the future. The adjectives “talented”, “promising” and “next big thing” would go in vain if he does not pull his socks up and perform. He would invariably go down the history books as “the unfulfilled talent”.

The second Test was dramatic in an absurd manner. After bravely declaring the first innings, Clarke was forced to swallow the bitter pill, standing by only as a mute spectator to the events that led to his team’s humiliation. India were indeed sniffing victory at the end of day three, but even a true Indian cricket enthusiast wouldn’t have wagered a fourth day finish, let alone before the completion of the second session. It was an absolute eye-sore, if truth be told.

“There is no doubt we have a lot of work to do in all facets of the game. There will certainly be no stone left unturned. The batsmen haven’t put enough runs on, and there is no excuse for that.” – Michael Clarke

The anguish of Michael Clarke summarizes the immense amount of ‘pain’ that he has suffered as a skipper and as a batsman who waged a lone battle. Australia have earned another dubious distinction of losing five consecutive Test matches against India in India, and that number portrays a story on the manner in which Australia had been thoroughly outplayed.

Though Australia had to rue the loss of the seniors, it is tough to ignore the obvious truth on the lack of plausible talents in the domestic circuit. They cannot produce a Matthew Hayden or a Ricky Ponting on a regular basis. They are a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ type of players whose loss has pegged the team down quite heavily.

Shane Warne did mention in one of his many interviews that touring India is seldom easy. He stressed on the importance of grooming talents, which the Australian board has clearly overlooked. Having outplayed India in the series down under, Clarke would have been mighty confident of his chances in the subcontinent. But from what has transpired, Clarke has clearly not appreciated the importance of ‘horses-for-courses’ strategy.

“There will be no break between the Test matches. There will be a lot of hard work, I can assure you. You don’t get better sitting on the couch. We have had guys get in and out without making big scores. That’s unacceptable,” – Michael Clarke

Clarke’s predicament can be pitied. The Australian selection committee has clearly misunderstood the lack of temperament and ability for lack of form. Form could be obtained with ample amount of practice but to prevail as a versatile player, it takes a lot of attitude and comprehension of one’s strength and weaknesses, to begin with. Even a player of Hayden’s calibre had to sweat bricks in the sunny weather of Chennai to master the art of playing spinners.

“Hayden’s 2001 show had a lot to do with his preparation. He came to Chennai a few months before the tour, grinding it out under the cruel sun, learning how to play against spin” – Ed Cowan, Australian opening batsman

It cannot be achieved overnight, and players like Glenn Maxwell and Philip Hughes aren’t going to be at ease any more than they are at present. A shortcut or a crash course wouldn’t bolster their case, and they would do better to understand that. The best option would be to undergo a minor revamp as a team and play to their strengths. By that, I do not mean that they would have to go in with three or four fast bowlers, resembling the tradition back in Australia, but they can organize the troops in accordance with the conditions.

For starters, Shane Watson is struggling to discover his form playing against the spinners. His feet aren’t moving quickly and the sudden change in the batting order hasn’t helped him one bit. Therefore, he should be promoted up the order to open the batting along with David Warner. Together, they can wrestle the initial momentum from the Indian seamers. The best option would be to play safe and draw the remaining Test matches. They would have to bat out of their skins to achieve that and it is no child’s play. Batting under the sweltering heat against the spinners in their own den is next to impossible, but they can manipulate the bowling by employing defensive and negative tactics that would definitely play on the minds of the Indian spinners. From then, it could be only be a matter of time before the bowlers tire out and then Australia could drive the nail in the coffin.

Batting first in the first two Test matches haven’t reaped any dividends for the team. On sub-continental pitches, day two and day three are considered to be a batting paradise, and Australia could contemplate restricting the Indians for a low score and try to make use of the placid conditions on day two and three.

Bowling has been the major concern for them. They are unable to administer the killer blow after the initial burst. Picking Sehwag’s wicket is like a walk in the park these days, but they would have done better to get the wicket of Murali Vijay, especially understanding his nervousness, playing international cricket after quite a while.

Honestly, the grey area in their bowling is the lack of a genuine spinner who could bowl well in any conditions. But personally, I feel that Clarke missed a trick by not picking Nathan Lyon for the second Test. Bowling in tandem with Xavier Doherty, Lyon would have been lethal. Let us not forget that he was mighty successful on his debut tour to Sri Lanka. One brilliant innings by the Indian skipper would not demolish the skill and repertoire of Lyon in any way, and Clarke would do better to pick him for the third Test. The casualty should definitely be Glenn Maxwell.

The fielding has been pretty clean and Australia can tick a box on that account. Their players are live wires on the field, pouncing on the balls with energy in the typical Australian fashion. “It is easier said than done” – the mantra for Michael Clarke and his men would be to do and not just say.

It would definitely prove arduous, but it is worth giving it a shot since they have got nothing to lose. Australia are on the mat, and it is time to witness one of the brave fight backs yet again. Or wait, is it going to be a classic case of an Indian domination? It is a long shot, but I can say with surety that India is well on its way to avenge their white-wash successfully.

The meaningless banters on ‘Sir’ Ravindra Jadeja have considerably lessened on the internet. The lad from Saurashtra has slowly been redeeming himself in the public’s eyes with noteworthy performances and has transformed into an asset to his skipper and the side.

Jadeja’s predicament is largely based on the undue support bestowed on him by his skipper ahead of  better qualified candidates and the fact that he has let the team down on quite a few occasions. He had dissipated umpteen chances of cementing his place on the side and with the potential that he possesses it appears all the more offensive.

There are quite a few instances where he has let the team down owing to his mediocrity and the lack of application. Sample this – in the 2009 T20 World Cup, India had to chase down a tricky 153 run target in a super eight match against England. Coming into bat ahead of an in-form Yuvraj Singh in a crucial run chase, Jadeja (25 off 35 balls) was outrageously defensive and was keen on consolidating his position rather than hitting a few lusty blows, for which he was delegated. It angered the Indian fans to such proportions that he was right away dropped after the World Cup before making one of his many comebacks later in the year.

The 2010 T20 World Cup was no different. India was playing a crucial encounter against West Indies. West Indies were off to a usual flier, thanks to Chris Gayle who was efficacious against the Indian seamers. Ravindra Jadeja was introduced to stem the flow of runs. But what he did stem was the opportunity that India had to make the cut for the semi-finals. He was generous in granting six consecutive sixes to Gayle, which turned the tide of the match in the opponents’ favour, not to mention the crucial catch he put down while fielding at the short fine leg position.

This could all be pardoned but the events that transpired in the 5th one-day match against Australia in 2009 would portray him as the villain forever. Sachin was blasting his way against a fiery Australian team, chasing 351 runs for a victory. Coming in to bat at the fall of Harbhajan’s wicket, Jadeja was listless as he was struggling to come to terms with the pacers. At a crucial juncture, he pressurised Sachin to up the ante, as a result of which Sachin had to depart, consigning the task to the culprit.

“It was certainly one of my best innings, but I would have gladly traded those 175 runs for a victory, it was one of those days when nothing seemed to be out of place. I was able to execute my strokes well. Our middle order failed, but Suresh Raina batted fluently. We had a good partnership of 137. Suresh was caught behind at 299 in the 43rd over. Harbhajan Singh fell soon after, to make it 300/6, but I believed we were very much in control. It was a question of hanging in there, running well and ensuring that bad balls were dealt with harshly. We were only 19 away when I tried to lift (Clint) McKay over short fine-leg, only to be caught by (Nathan) Hauritz. It was a huge disappointment. The lower order tried hard, but more wickets fell, and we fell short by three runs.” – Sachin Tendulkar.

The dejection was evident in Sachin’s statement as he still regrets the incompetence of the ‘lower-middle order batsmen’ who offered the match to the opposition on a platter after coming so close to victory. Jadeja was the man behind the scene as he let the match slip after the Master’s brilliance and his followers would never forgive him for disappointing their idol for an eternity.

In spite of all the blasphemies, there is something queer and compelling about him that merits his selection time and again. Though the critics have been baying for his blood, he has seldom been perturbed by all the accusations, putting his head down and concentrating on the job at hand.

Jadeja’s domestic records are ones to be envied. In the year 2011, he scored his maiden triple century in the four-day format. Scoring a triple century is no child’s play and it can only be achieved with talent and temperament which Jadeja seemed to possess without a doubt. He followed it up with twin triple-tons in the next season which urged the critics to sit up and take notice of the youngster’s talent. It isn’t easy to score three triple centuries and only a handful of talented cricketers have achieved that celeb status. He rose to prominence with his all-round show in the Ranji trophy which merited him a Test match berth.

The IPL’s ‘million-dollar-baby’ has been in the news for quite the wrong reasons in the past. Having been snapped up by the Chennai Super Kings for a mammoth two million figure, Jadeja seldom lived up to the expectations and the money invested.  He was mediocre as an all-rounder for Chennai. Two million dollars were considered wasted. Period.

The resurgence of his career arrived in the one-day series in England in 2011. The seniors were out with injuries which provided Jadeja with a chance to stake his claim in the Indian middle-order. Though India were white-washed, Jadeja came up with some critical performances to justify his place in the side. But the script was undone in Australia as he proved a liability with both the bat and the ball in the CB series when David Hussey took him to the cleaners on more than one occasion.

He was thrown back into the domestic circuit again, and Jadeja answered with the triple centuries. The selectors found it hard to ignore him, which paved the way for his Test debut. He failed once again with the bat in his first Test, but was quick on the field and more than handy with the ball which provided him with a berth in the one-day side.

“The day a legend is born is the day when one understands his true potential.”

The one-day series against England was indeed a saving grace for him and the transformation from a mediocre all-rounder to an irreplaceable asset commenced. At Kochi, in the 2nd ODI, Jadeja rose up to the occasion to hit a whirlwind 61 off just 37 balls to team up with Dhoni and put up a more than challenging 285 on board. It was the turning point of his career as he proved his critics that he could indeed be the quintessential lower middle order batsman which India needed. It was a visual treat as Jadeja thrashed the England bowlers to all parts of the park and he displayed a rare sense of belonging at that stage. He followed it up with some crucial wickets in the series to prove that he is here to stay.

His form in the England series ensured his berth in the current Border-Gavaskar trophy. He has picked up 11 wickets in the two Test matches he has played, not to mention his utility as a fielder who patrols the inner circle with prowess. His fielding has been a telling attribute as India boasts a poor history of producing fielders of good standards. He stands out from the rest of the players in this aspect and discussing about his fielding, one cannot forget the run-out of a well-set Ricky Ponting in the 4th one-day against Australia in 2009 which tilted the momentum in our favour.

The only grey area is his temperament and consistency. He has found wanting in those aspects in the past, yet he has shown the intent to turn a new leaf and that promise is visible in his performances. He has a long way to go as a cricketer, but he could well bridge the gap between the batsmen and the bowlers in the Indian line-up. His abilities would be handy in sub-continent conditions. With the right amount of temperament and application, he could well be the answer to our prayers of an all-rounder.

The interesting aspect in Jadeja’s career is that he has never given up after a failure. He was on the verge of a World Cup berth before poor form shunted him aside. But the attitude to bounce back has kept him in the hunt all along since the common belief is:

“Winners don’t quit, they always try one more time after every failure!”

“Cheteshwar Pujara belongs to the Kshatriya clan” – I came across this queer piece of information somewhere on the internet and the depth of the statement amazed me! Kshatriyas were well-known for the bravery and valour. They fight for what they believe in.

Though the clan is extinct on the basis of the literal purpose that they served, it couldn’t be more apparent that their descendants have indeed inherited and imbibed the basic nature of their founding fathers, or at least it holds well in the case of Pujara. The way Pujara has led the batting in the past eight months speaks volumes of his character traits.

The transition phase for any team is vital and inducting the right kind of talent is an unenviable job. Initially, the results would be poor and the void left by the former player would make its presence felt when the team is under the scanner. But the way Pujara has handled the position of Rahul Dravid (I believe that the number three position well and truly belongs to Dravid, and whoever plays at that position is merely filling in for the man!) ensured that the transition was smooth without any glitches. It is a certainly a boon for Team India. Having said that, the transition did not happen overnight; rather it was a process that was initiated quite a long time ago when Pujara cracked his maiden triple century in a Ranji trophy game.

The saga of Pujara begins on a sad note. In this era of cricket, it is arduous to stumble upon a domestic cricketer who did not possess all the luxuries that life offered. But in the case of Arvind Pujara (Pujara’s father played first class cricket for Saurashtra), that wasn’t the case. Pujara wasn’t born with a silver spoon. Playing cricket as a passion, Pujara was quite extraordinary even as a kid. He was right away marked as a future Indian prospect.

But things were not hunky-dory for Pujara. His state of poverty meant that he had to sweat for everything he obtained. It wasn’t a roller-coaster ride. It wasn’t even a ride to be honest, rather a battle for a lone warrior who stood fighting.  The runs did come in huge numbers, but what enhanced his reputation was the kind of conviction that Pujara exhibited as a teenager.

The teenage generation of this era has disintegrated into ‘sophisticated and contemporary’. Keeping focus amidst the social life that a youngster leads is a task for the determined and Pujara could not have displayed it finer by scoring back-to-back triple centuries at the under-22 level. He sacrificed his life as a teenager and embarked upon a journey to emerge as a successful cricketer.

The tribulations did not end there. Pujara, who wanted to pursue a career as a leg-spin bowler, lost his mother to cancer at the age of seventeen. It was a blow to Pujara as his mother Reenaben was his inspiration. She backed him to such an extent that she would actually participate in Pujara’s day-to-day cricketing activities.

“You can imagine what a huge shock it must have been for Chintu when he was told about his mother’s death. We were really worried about him, especially when he barely uttered a few words, let alone shed tears, for several days. It was as if his world had collapsed. Reena’s death made Chintu more determined, and if you look at his scores and performances post-2005, you can notice a remarkable degree of consistency in them.” – Arvind Pujara

The next part of this saga was the transformation from a school cricketer to a first class cricketer. The refinement was apparent as he converted his talent into runs. He was the highest run-getter for India in the U-19 World Cup in 2009 (349 runs). He followed it up with his debut ton in the Ranji Trophy against Goa when he scored 145 runs.

“All this became apparent when he was selected in the Saurashtra Under-14 team, when he scored back-to-back centuries — 138 against Mumbai and 306 not out versus Baroda in 2000-01. In many ways, the 306 not out turned out to be a turning point in his career. Not only did it earn him national headlines for the first time, his progress as a cricketer has been marked since then.” – Arvind Pujara.

Then he burst on to the big stage. It was the 9^th of October 2010 when India took on Australia in a Test match. Pujara was selected in the team after the failure of the incumbent number six batsman. The first innings was a disaster as he was bowled for just four runs. The big moment was snatched from him by fate. The ball kept low and beat the bottom half of his bat and hit the stumps. The dejection was clear on his face. The pain of getting out was palpable as he walked back to the pavilion. It seemed as though another talent from the domestic circle was squandering his chances at this level.

But Pujara wouldn’t give up. India was chasing 207 runs in the final essay as Pujara was sent ahead of the experienced Rahul Dravid to bat at number three. The audience were amazed at this decision from the skipper, since the man who walked out to bat was a debutante and one more wicket at this stage would have given a much needed boost to Australia.  But what transpired on the field was something phenomenal and will probably go down the history books as the ‘birth-of-a-legend’ in many ways.

Walking out to bat, Pujara was resolute as he manipulated the Australian bowling with ease. Even if he had any nervousness or pressure, he seldom displayed it as he went about setting himself up. There are hardly any cricketers from India who do not flinch at the thought of facing fast bowlers. Pujara stood apart from the rest as he excelled at the challenge of facing the fast bowlers, driving, cutting and pulling them with sheer disdain and incredible audacity. He was accomplishing the task set for him with impeccable finesse and precise timing. He made 72 runs before getting out and set the match up for the seniors. It was an emphatic victory over the toughest of foes and the credit would definitely belong to Pujara.

Pujara was dropped from the Indian side after a couple of poor outings. Things turned worse when he got himself injured and missed the better part of 2011. His comeback was in doubt and the amount of time it took meant that another player had already taken up his place in the Indian side. But Pujara did not give up as he fought back from the injury and toured with the India A side. Even as his team mates were faltering under alien conditions, Pujara looked rock-solid, emerging as the highest run-getter for his side.

“Some things are destined to be – it just takes us a couple of tries to get there.”

The retirement of Rahul Dravid provided Pujara with another opportunity to cement his place in the side. The set-up couldn’t have been better for the Dravid-modeled batsman as he strode out to take the place of the great man. He took  guard even as the critics were baying for his blood and were waiting to call the retirement of Dravid “preposterous”. A couple of failures could have destroyed his career but that is where Pujara stands out from the rest of the crowd. He made a fluent 159 against New Zealand and followed it up with a couple of centuries against England, one of which was a double.

The dream runs continues against Australia as he scored his second double ton (204 runs) in the second Test at Hyderabad. It was noteworthy for the kind of application that Pujara displayed, and having a cool head helped as well. He put India in the driver’s seat with a humongous lead as he notched up a thousand career runs, the second fastest for India. If he manages to carry on in the same fashion, he could well set several benchmarks and become one of the finest Test match batsmen to have ever emerged from the subcontinent.

Patience and the hunger to stay in the middle are the stand-out attributes of Pujara. He has well and truly replaced Rahul Dravid and has anointed himself as an able successor to the “The Wall”. Though he might have a variety of names such as “The Wall 2.0”, “Che”, and “Chintu”, he will always be a “true Kshatriya” to me.

The general opinion on Murali Vijay includes the facts on the lack of foot-work, temperament and the hunger to stay in the middle. Yet, there is something amidst these imperfections that renders him apart from the rest of the crowd. The most obvious aspect that one can associate with Vijay is the charm he exudes while batting.

“Talent cannot be manifested; it is a virtue that is born within.”

Murali Vijay’s career is a tale of rags to riches. Having taken up professional cricket at a relatively later age, his career has soared up to the skies owing to the prodigious level of skill that he has exhibited. It is seldom easy to define a player like him. Vijay is a multi-faceted batsman, whose realm is beyond comprehension. His affinity towards both the shorter and longer formats has proven his versatility as a batsman.

It is ironic to be discussing about Murali Vijay amidst a Test series between India and Australia. It was the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2008. The incumbent opener Gautam Gambhir was handed a one-match ban owing to the tussle between him and Shane Watson in the previous Test match. India was suddenly lacking prospective candidates, as Gambhir was blowing hot with a rollicking double century, only in the previous Test.

Enter Vijay. He was plying his trade in a Ranji Trophy encounter between Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. A relatively unknown entity, Vijay strung a mammoth partnership (462 runs for the first wicket) with fellow opener Abhinav Mukund, making a classy double century in the process. It could only be classified as divine intervention for Vijay, as he was by no means on the threshold of making the cut. In every success there remains a casualty, and in this case it was the exclusion of the talented Wasim Jaffer, as Vijay was selected ahead of him.

The sudden ban for Gambhir provided Vijay with an opportunity to don the prestigious whites for team India.  The general sight in witnessing a debutant would include nervous jabs, unsure defence and tentative footwork, which indicates the presence of butterflies in the stomach. But it was completely amazing to see Vijay taking control of the situation, as he lent solidity at the top of the order. He was instrumental in setting up the match for his team even as he scored 33 and 41 runs in his two essays.

“His defensive shots are so assured. And he looks comfortable off both front and back foot. And when he attacks, he doesn’t go hard at the deliveries. I can see why this young man is playing” – Allan Border

It wasn’t a century that he scored, yet the manner in which he applied himself articulated the depth in his character and the will to succeed. Added to that, he was a dab hand as a close-in fielder, effecting two crucial run-outs to turn the tide in favour of his team. These attributes augured well for him as he repaid the selectors’ faith in him. Thereafter, he was persisted as the reserve opener.

His sojourn in the Indian Premier League is the next chapter of this noteworthy saga.  The idiosyncratic nature of the IPL grants the domestic giants of Indian cricket the chance to showcase their skills on a bigger platform. The Chennai top order which had Parthiv Patel and Matthew Hayden in recurring roles saw fit to provide Vijay with a chance. “The youngster had promise,” felt Indian skipper MS Dhoni, as he persisted with Murali Vijay in the third edition to general bewilderment, since Patel was an established opening batsman and had represented the national side on quite a few occasions.

Vijay was outstanding that season as he scored his maiden ton. He backed it up with some credible performances to emerge as the second highest run-getter for Chennai, just behind Raina. His exploits meant that he was in line to make his debut in T20s, that too at the World Cup. He couldn’t have been more blessed, as his performances kept coming at the appropriate times.

“The journey to the top is not a bed of roses!” – Vijay had to swallow the bitter pill of lack of form, as he struggled to compete at the highest level. His honeymoon had concluded with the completion of the World Cup. His lackadaisical attitude and lack of proper footwork meant that he was sidelined for the rest of the season. But his form in the longer formats held in him good stead for a comeback to the national side. He played the Test series against Australia at the fag end of the year for a second time.

There is something queer about Vijay and his style of batting. Though he displays flashes of mediocrity initially, he confines himself to play within his limits once he gets set. It helped him when he scored his maiden ton against a pace-filled Australia.

The most vital attribute of his batting repertoire is the elegance he exhibits. Right-handers seldom display elegance in such eminence that it makes their batting seem quite adorable. Though people have loved to watch the straight drive from the Master’s blade, it is Mahela Jayawardene who walks away with the honours when it comes to elegance and grace. Vijay is a one-of-a-kind cricketer who displays fluidity and immense grace in every shot, and in every little movement of his while batting.

Post that knock, Vijay had to make way for the seniors as he had a poor run of form. To be honest, his form was like a pendulum which swung from one extreme to the other. He did not have any other major performances to boast of, barring a couple of good knocks in the IPL. It was not much, to say the least, until the Irani trophy in 2012.

Vijay, who was given a reprieve and a chance to prove his mettle, blasted his way to a mammoth double century (266 runs). It was the highest score in an Irani trophy game and brought him back into the reckoning. A string of low scores followed once more, as had become a habit. He had yet another opportunity to claim a berth in the Indian Test side. He made the cut for the Irani trophy against Mumbai this year as well. Vijay’s selection befuddled the fans, as he had a poor domestic season. But he put that all behind him, as he scored an unrestrained ton in the first innings. It did not seem enough to stake a claim in the Test team, as Wasim Jaffer had a far better record as an opener coming into the match. But destiny proved otherwise, as Vijay was included once again ahead of Jaffer. It portrays the immense faith that the selectors have shown towards his potential.

The first Test was a blasphemy. While his state mate was wreaking havoc with the ball, Vijay had mediocre outings, with scores of 10 and 6, which caused dejection in the fans.

Honestly, critics opined that Vijay should be dropped from the playing eleven, and either Dhawan or Rahane should be included. But the faith that the skipper had in him, and the fact that MS Dhoni understands the batting nuances of Vijay, went in his favour.

The second Test was all set for a Virender Sehwag showdown, as the Aussies were bowled out or rather, declared themselves on the score of 237/9. The opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay walked out to bat with the burden of proving a point or two to the critics. But Sehwag was a huge disappointment once again, as he departed for six runs. The onus fell on Vijay and Pujara, the latter walking out to bat at number three.

The creation of history in cricket does not possess any indications beforehand. It happens when it does!

Vijay played cautiously to avoid any further breakthroughs. Along with Pujara, he constructed the “innings-of-a-lifetime”. The defenses were rock solid, and the drives were all the more elegant. He was gaining in confidence with each passing delivery, and the experience of facing the Australian bowling came to the fore, as he played second fiddle to Pujara.

It was an innings of great mental ability and strength, as he was circumspect in his approach. It was shocking to see Vijay in such a changed ‘avatar’, as he put the flair and flamboyance behind and looked to consolidate his position. It was a welcome change and would have made the fans of Chennai Super Kings wonder: “What happened to our ballistic Vijay?”

It was an innings to cherish, as he defied all the odds to emerge as the winner. He has kept himself in the hunt at the end of the second day, and he would be looking to add a few more runs to his tally tomorrow morning. With this knock he has proved to his adversaries and fans that:

“There is no short cut to success; rather, success is all about the art of grabbing the right opportunities at the right moments!”

Ashwin’s Test debut was not a matter of choice; rather it was based on lack of credible options in Indian domestic cricket. Harbhajan was considered a spent force and the alternative options were not making much of an impact. The shortcut to destiny is what Ashwin inherited through the cash-rich Indian Premier League. He was by no means in the reckoning for the Indian berth and was relatively unheard of prior to his exploits in the IPL.

He should consider himself lucky to be picked in the playing eleven in the IPL. The bizarre nature of the tournament, which permits only four foreign players, was a boon in disguise for the Chennai lad as he was handed an opportunity to prove his mettle.

It was the 13^th of April 2010. The match between Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders had gained much prominence due to the presence of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in the playing eleven. The batting looked formidable with the battle touted to be a contest between the reigning and former Indian skippers. The tournament was at its fag end with the Super Kings on the mat for a spot in the play-offs.

Kolkata opted to bat first and a huge score was on the cards as Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle walked out to open the innings. It is a daunting task for any rookie bowler to open the bowling in such a scenario. Ashwin was asked to bowl the first over. Even as the people were expecting the fireworks, Ashwin bowled a tidy line to restrict the score to three runs. His first over was quite economical. But what followed in his subsequent over was a career-defining moment for him.

Bowling to Chris Gayle, Ashwin was “cool as a cucumber” and seldom let his emotions betray him. The first ball was hoicked for a mammoth six by Gayle – an indication to the treatment in reserve for Ashwin. There are only a few bowlers in this world that can flight the ball without fear to a batsman of Gayle’s calibre in a T20 match even after being hit for a six. Ashwin was relentless as he bowled a similar kind of delivery, albeit a bit slower. He foxed Gayle, who stepped out of his crease and missed the ball. The whole stadium went numb with the kind of audacity that Ashwin displayed. Dhoni collected the ball behind the stumps and effected the stumping.

If people thought that this was the turning point of the match, Ashwin had a treat for the Chennai fans as he snapped up the wicket of the dangerous Brendon McCullum four balls later. The audience were awestruck to witness a rookie from the backyards of Chennai breathing fire in a high pressure match. It was all the more gratifying, especially when Muralitharan was taken to the cleaners.

“I’m always prepared to be hit for a few sixes” – revealed a formidable Ashwin, when asked about the secret of his success as he burst on to the screen with that magnanimous performance. He was oozing in confidence as he repaid the faith of his skipper.

Ultimately, Ashwin was the go-to guy for his skipper. In any demanding situation, Dhoni would simply throw the ball to Ashwin and ask him to deliver the goods. It had similar bearings to the situations when Ricky Ponting had the backing of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne – bowlers who would be willing to bowl their heart out in any situation. Ashwin was similar, as he was seldom apprehensive in his approach.

An interesting attribute of Ashwin is the amount of pressure he absorbs as a bowler. He bowls during the power-plays and yet is unfazed of the slog hitters. He expresses himself in his own inimitable style by adapting to the situation and trying to restrict the batsmen. It is a crucial aspect to any aspiring spinner, as spinners tends to take a hit in this age of slam-bang cricket. It has provided Dhoni with a new dimension to his bowling attack as he can rely on Ashwin during the power plays.

Ashwin had his target set as he was vying for a Test spot, sooner rather than later. Dhoni was accompanied by his able lieutenant Ashwin thereafter in the shorter forms of the game. He was provided with the necessary backing by the skipper as he had a good run of form. His credible performances and the lack of options meant that he was delegated to make his debut against West Indies.

“What I like about Ashwin is that he is not scared of flighting the ball, not just in Tests, but in T20s and ODI cricket too. He has got the variety, he has the carom ball, the quicker one and an easy action,” opined Wasim Akram.

After a blitzkrieg with both ball and bat in his debut series, he was labelled as an able replacement for Harbhajan Singh. His exploits ignited his fellow slow-bowler as the performance of Pragyan Ojha was stepped up by a few notches.

“The essence of a true warrior does not lie in the fight alone, but the way in which he leads his companions.”

Pragyan Ojha was visibly pumped up and was raring to bowl in tandem with Ashwin. The absorbing aspect of Ashwin’s bowling is the amount of flight he renders the ball. It is tough in this T20 era, but Ashwin is unwavering in his line and length. He has been an important part of the Indian line-up since his debut. He was absolutely magnificent in the Tests against New Zealand, where he picked up 18 wickets.  A dream run is what it could be compiled as in a nutshell.

“Remember the good times, live through the bad ones.”

Then came the England series, and Ashwin was touted to be the highest wicket-taker in this series, as his subtle variations were expected to deceive the clueless English batsman. The series was a disaster as Ashwin was negotiated with ease and comfort. The English had a game plan for Ashwin as they swept him off the pads time and again.

Though I have mentioned that the series was a disaster for Ashwin, one should remember that he picked up fourteen wickets and scored few crucial runs off his bat in that series. Even purely as a bowler, for a person who had a mediocre series, fourteen wickets are never few. Imagine if a bowler could pick that many wickets in his bad times, how many could he pick in his good ones?

Ashwin was classified as a failure even before the conclusion of that series. It was shame that Ashwin did not bag more wickets against England, but he was going through a learning curve in his career as he was contemplating unorthodox ways to get the better of the English batsmen.

The exclusion was Ashwin looked imminent but they had to persist with him since India did not have any suitable options left.  Ashwin bowled partially well in the one day series against England and Pakistan, but was nowhere near his best. He was confused on how to employ his variations; as a result, his line and length ran haywire.

But he was a fighter and refused to give up irrespective of the tough the situation was. They fight till their last breath. Ashwin was a fighter to the core as he went back to covering his basics. He shaped his comeback in an enthralling fashion as he picked up twelve wickets in the first Test against Australia.

This new version of Ashwin was pretty improved and relaxed. He had unhinged the monkey off his back and bowled without any sort of pressure. The flight was back in his armoury and so was his hunger to pick wickets. He is crucial to the team’s chances and it would pretty awesome to watch him back in action with the old charm, flight, loop and the contrasting shades which is quite the style icon and a funny addition to his identity.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/03/03/r-ashwin-letting-the-ball-do-all-the-talking/feed/ 0 03343 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/03/02/why-the-border-gavaskar-trophy-is-crucial-for-ms-dhoni/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/03/02/why-the-border-gavaskar-trophy-is-crucial-for-ms-dhoni/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:23:24 +0000 anandvasudev http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=1381057

It is an exhilarating feeling to experience a victory, a true domination not marred by recklessness and absurdity. It was an exhibition of thorough professionalism attained with relative conviction. Things are back on track and Dhoni would be worrying about a few less grey hairs, for a couple of days at least.

It is a critical position for team India as they face the hazard of falling into the trap called complacency and callousness. Hyderabad will be an acid test of sorts for team India as to see whether they can keep their heads after an emphatic victory without slipping back into the old routines. It does have its set of predicaments in certain divisions. The openers, for instance, floundered their chances and it would definitely be a cause for worry.

There are other issues besides the obvious ones. The bowling was a one-man show as Ashwin spun a web to gain the upper hand, even as the other bowlers were quite colourless; a major alarm that would give the skipper a few sleepless nights.  Knowing Dhoni, he would be analysing the short comings even before the experts could give it a thought. Dhoni has seldom been the traditional player that we have grown up witnessing in Indian cricket. His thought process is on a completely different platform, not to mention his style and charisma that are quite weird and attractive to the fans. So is his batting.

Having cracked the codes to absorb pressure like a sponge that soaks up all the water, he has been exemplary in his last two outings as a batsman. A skipper ought to disregard his role as a leader when he walks out to bat. He should have a clear head to face the bowlers without the pressure of captaincy. He did just that as he catapulted the Indian lead within the span of three sessions to tilt the match in our favour. It was domination par excellence as he launched a scathing attack, a retort to all the struggles he had to brave as a captain in the last eighteen months.

His ability as a skipper and as a batsman was questioned. Willingly or not, he was fabricated as the root cause of all of India’s predicaments. The critics lashed out at him for not having the courage to lead the side through the tribulations. A better man would have crumbled under the pressure, but he wouldn’t. The stand-off with the seniors did not help either. Those who were supposed to be his trusted lieutenants turned against him. The script was unwritten as it was etched two years back, subsequent to the World Cup victory, to be precise.

The sagas of his World Cup victories have been sung for a zillion times already and his reputation as a skipper is vouched for by rival skippers as well. He brings about a queer persona that stumps the straight thinking cricketers. A major chunk of the World Cup victory would belong to the man from a small town as he rightly had the honours to conclude the tournament on his own terms.

The phase after the World Cup was gruesome and laborious for the team. The experienced players bailed, citing injuries, and Dhoni was forsaken with a bunch of tawdry talents, mixed with the ‘ancient’ seniors. They were the saving grace though, to be honest. If not for a man called Rahul Dravid, India’s reputation in Tests would have sunk to the bottom in England, as it eventually did in Australia.

The players accountable for the defeats did not have the courage to put their hands up even as they were over the moon when India tasted victory. They seemed pretty indifferent and all the fingers were facing in the same direction, Dhoni’s. It is a well-known fact that Indian cricket and its fans have always been partial to their cricketing heroes. When the team wins, they are worshipped as demi-gods, and when they lose the cricketers would be humiliated in a fashion in which even a murderer wouldn’t be treated.

Whenever the team lost, the blame would invariably land on the skipper, through no fault of his. His statements were misinterpreted and his judegment of the team and tactics were put under the scanner. His reputation took a beating and people were beginning to speculate on his sacking and retirement with such audacity that the skipper would have never imagined. It was a pity to see the skipper who won us two World Cups being treated in such a manner.

Alas, the situation has changed for good. MS Dhoni has seized the initiative and has blasted his way back to the top. The last four months have been pretty good for Dhoni the batsman. He has altered his batting style and has added a few good shots to his erstwhile repertoire. He has grown more aggressive in nature and is not afraid to take the aerial route – things that were the definition of “Being MSD” in the past. It is a welcome change to be able to perceive Dhoni in such a form and it augurs well for the team.

The chances are looking bright for team India, especially after Dhoni’s mammoth knock in Chennai. A series win is crucial to team India, especially after the drubbing against England and Pakistan in home soil. It would change the perspective of MS Dhoni the skipper as the struggle persists to hoist his name back on the board.

I think we have finally found a suitable rejoinder for Dravid. The way Pujara plays reminds us of the Wall and it is finally time to credit him for his solidity at the top of the order. They say “Form is temporary and class is permanent”. Pujara couldn’t have exhibited his class in a more exceptional fashion as he was rock-solid during his sojourn. Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni were lauded for their batting exploits in the first Test, but experts neglected the evidence that it was Pujara who resurrected the Indian innings along with Sachin as India were looking down the barrel with the loss of two early wickets. The way he handled the bowlers suggested that he is in splendid form. He would categorically be the player to keep an eye out for in the upcoming Tests.

It was a clinical performance to summarize; but as a critic and a fan, quite a few questions popped into my head – What would have transpired had Dhoni not scored those runs? What if he had gotten out on his endeavour to score quickly? What would have been India’s situation a day later?

I was intrigued by the queries and I felt that it would have been a reiteration of the England series. India would have squandered the match, and who knows, the result might have been very different. Therefore, India needs to be focussed and plan well to maintain this great run of form.

Here are the five areas that the Indian team needs to work on:

The opening conundrum:

How many chances will Sehwag get?

Sehwag was listless and Vijay was pathetic. Period. There isn’t much to argue about the fluctuating form of the openers, as this concern has plagued India severely in the past. Added to that, Sehwag has been sloppy in the slips as he dropped a catch of David Warner – one that could have proven costly. Vijay should not be written off as yet. His charming cover-drives could still come in handy when India go out to bat in Hyderabad. India does not have a better option here unless the board is considering Jaffer as a  replacement for Vijay in the middle of a series.

Shikhar Dhawan is a raw talent who could be a vital prospect, and India wouldn’t exhaust anything at this point by providing him with a chance. On the flip side, if he performs well, it could be an added bonus to the team. Rahane is a credible option as well. It is time he left the bench and took to the field.

Need to swing it hard, bowlers:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was expected to threaten the opposition and perform magic with the ball. But he was completely clueless, way-ward and in contrast to his Australian counter-parts. It could be attributed to the nervousness and cold feet, but initial breakthroughs with the new ball would let the spinners ease in when they would come in to bowl. He should be able to prise out a wicket or two with the new ball.

Ishant Sharma is mediocre even after playing 47 tests. His contributions with the new ball are very minimal. He should iron out his flaws to stake a claim in the team in the future as talented fast bowlers are awaiting their opportunity. India did not need the services of the fast bowlers in the last match; however, their presence would be crucial since reverse swing is a key weapon in sub-continent conditions, as demonstrated by Zaheer Khan many times in the past.

Bye-Bye Harbhajan:

End of the road?

Enough is enough! India does not require his services, at least at the moment. Pragyan Ojha is in form and India would rather have the “spin-twins” bowling in tandem, especially against the likes of Clarke and Watson. He is crucial to the team’s balance as Jadeja bowls a conservative line. Ojha would be a perfect foil to Ashwin and could re-create the magic of West Indies and New Zealand.

Moreover, Harbhajan has been quite mediocre, except when he picked the two wickets in the second innings. It isn’t enough for the Turbanator to hold his place in the team. He should sort the glitches in his bowling before making his return to the big stage once more.

Jadeja in an ‘unseen’ turf’:

The skipper has entrusted his preferred batting position to his lieutenant Sir Ravi Jadeja in the hope that he would live up to his “triple ton” name. But Jadeja has been patchy in the two opportunities he had as a batsman. His contributions with the bat are vital in case the top order falters. He should be accountable for his wicket and start putting a price on it.

Throw in the dives, fellas:

The volatile nature of the Indian fielding is proverbial. While they may exhibit their brilliance once in a while, they have been scratchy for the remainder. They need to take a leaf out of their opponents’ fielding manual; Australia have been very sharp on the field, putting in the dives and throws and making life difficult for the batsmen. India did drop a couple of half-chances and they could surely improve on that aspect!

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/27/five-areas-the-indian-team-needs-to-work-on/feed/ 0 08684 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/26/from-england-to-australia-india-on-path-to-regain-test-supremacy/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/02/26/from-england-to-australia-india-on-path-to-regain-test-supremacy/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:21:21 +0000 anandvasudev http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=1365510

The England series in the summer of 2011 made us realize quite a few things. The seniors were growing older with every passing day and the youngsters hadn’t been properly groomed to face the rigours of Test cricket. India was quite under-prepared to face the opposition on alien turfs. Yet, the level of confidence was quite overwhelming. India had just beaten a low ranked West Indies in West Indies and carried the credits over to England without comprehending the repercussions of being under-prepared, which they were about to understand soon enough.

More than the above shortcomings, it was the lack of quality bowlers that troubled India, so much so that the skipper Dhoni removed his gloves to take a ‘swing’ at the batsman. “Nothing could have been more humiliating than this” – opined Kapil Dev. But what was Dhoni supposed to do? Conjure a bowler magically from the heavens? Harbhajan was supposedly down with an injury. I wouldn’t blame him. He wouldn’t have made an impact even if he had played. His career was over and he knew it. Maybe he was expecting to grasp again the basics of being a Test match bowler in the rehabilitation time and shake off the rustiness. Zaheer, on the other hand, is so fragile that he can’t walk through a street without injuring himself. Dhoni would not have expected this from two of his best bowlers. He was left to fight the battle with a mediocre Amit Mishra and a ‘right-from-the-vacation’ R.P. Singh. It was the indication of the depths that Indian cricket has sunk to.

A major change ensued or rather a show was put-on; Harbhajan was dropped for the Test series against West Indies at home. Yet, Sehwag and Gambhir were spared the axe and were given a reprieve, keeping in mind their exploits more than a year back. It was understandable that BCCI wanted the revenues so badly to persist with non-performing ‘stars’. Meanwhile, R. Ashwin was handed a chance to make his debut.

The West Indies series was done and dusted as a new star was born in Ashwin. He bamboozled the batsmen and scored some crucial runs. The fans and the media were happy and accepted the team as it was. The openers hadn’t fired and the middle-order looked rusty and crumbling. No investigations were undertaken even as the board and the team management kept the fans in the dark about the ‘rifts’ that were surfacing among certain senior players.

India travelled to Australia with false hopes and promises as they were touted to take on an inexperienced Australian side. The Indian team, whereas, were filled with seniors. They pledged to get the better of Australia and wash the sins of the whitewash against England in a masterly fashion.

The set-up couldn’t have been better. Rahul Dravid was in the form of his life and VVS Laxman had notched up a mammoth hundred against West Indies that won him the man of the match award. Virender Sehwag was not far behind as he cracked a whirlwind 219 in ODIs against West Indies to kindle the expectations of the fans.

India did dominate, but only in two places; the one where Dravid gave the Bradman Oration and the first two days of the first Test. It was a perfect start to an important series. Having bundled the Australians for less than 340, India were looking solid at 214 runs for the loss of just three wickets. Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar got half-centuries with Rahul Dravid remaining not out overnight. India were supposed to gain a huge lead in the following day with Dravid all set for another ton. But what unfolded was an eye-sore for the Indian fans on the morning of the third day, as they were treated to some genuine fast bowling by the Australians. Wickets fell in heap as India faltered. They were bundled up for 282 and the script went awry from that point of the series.

India trudged home after the whitewash and the speculations of axing and sackings soon followed. The media was having a field day, compiling the whys and hows of India’s loss. Nothing materialised of course, if you do not count the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. There were more pressing issues to be dealt with. The board and the team management failed to understand that the retirements of the stalwarts are not going to help the team one bit.

It was like viewing a languid tele-serial as the board kept playing the same old drama over and over again. They brought us Sri Lanka and New Zealand and made us forget the blasphemies of the past. India was back to business as usual, on their backyard. The youngsters seemed like fitting into the big shoes of the seniors, while actually they were merely filling them temporarily.

The openers failed once again, along with Sachin. The spin-bowlers turned out to be our saving grace once again as Ashwin and Ojha shared the majority of the wickets against New Zealand while the batting disappointments were swept under the rug.

Then England came.

It was a general perception that England was poor at playing spin as demonstrated by Pakistan earlier in the year. Therefore, the series was considered as a walk in the park for India. They only had to emulate the bowling performances of the Pakistanis. It is easier said than done. The board played some underhand tricks to undermine the opposition. The skipper voiced his support for spinning tracks as they wanted to pay back the dues of the old.

India was clinical in the first Test with Ojha and Pujara performing extremely well. Sehwag got a century as well and things were looking good after a long time. The team were callously confident about their chances after they beat England comprehensively. Dhoni was now sure of his opinions. He was vociferous in his demand for spinning tracks to humiliate England as they did India in England. This is where the over-confidence of India was objectified by the captain.

India lost the series, to cut the long story short. The seniors were the culprits yet again. Apart from saving their skin with some good-for-nothing scores, there was nothing substantial. This time, the fury and the wrath were directed at the skipper. It was a twist of fate and luck as Dhoni tried to battle the media single-handedly. He turned into the self proclaimed ‘punch-bag’ of the team as he put up with all the criticisms. The board finally saw fit to score off a few names from the team chart and yet, they did not have the courage to do the needy. Sehwag was still retained and Harbhajan found a place in the team. There was nothing else the board could do; according to them it would be preposterous to drop all the seniors at once.

The only reassurance was the sacking of Gautam Gambhir. The new board sent out warning signals to non-performers in the team. But the team still lacked the zeal to blow away the opponents, even if they are inexperienced. No more hypes preceded the series as India realized that they would only humiliate themselves.

The Australians came to India and this time, the board did not bother playing the underhand tricks. The first Test was a success, yes. But India still has some huge gaps to fill. Sehwag was sloppy for the umpteenth time both on the field and with the bat. He was unlucky, but all the same, the Sehwag of the old would have gotten more runs in the ten odd balls that he faced. Therefore I can safely assume that he is only a ghost of the past. It is time to look ahead of the past credentials.

The only change from the previous series was the form of Sachin. Things looked charming as the ball kept hitting the sweet spot of his bat. But one cannot be assured that he would replicate his effort in the forthcoming Test matches. The fast bowlers looked pretty indifferent as usual and their services were not required. But they should be ready to provide the breakthroughs when the situation demands.

India has completed an emphatic victory over Australia. But it is still not the time to let the guard down. They have a pretty rough road ahead. India should forgo complacency and should look to close out the series in the very next match in their favour. The series can’t be decided, but it could be a sense of relief to finally know that India won’t lose this series definitely!

Whenever the argument on the best spinner that India has ever produced comes up, there is a modern-day great whose name springs up, not to anyone’s surprise though. Anil Kumble has truly been one of the greatest spinners, not just in India but has the credentials to stake a claim at the top level. He could easily stroll up to the throne of ‘number-one-spinner-from-India’. The second spot though, evokes much debate owing to the spin-quartet of the 60s and 70s which included pretty heavy names like Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, B. Chandrasekhar and L. Venkatraghavan to mention a few. There were the others following them, but the competition is well and truly among these four and another man, Harbhajan Singh.

The name Harbhajan Singh has sufficient respect in the cricketing circles. His climb to the top of the ladder has been simply outstanding. Being overshadowed for the major part of his career by Kumble, Harbhajan was silently plying his trade, bowling in tandem with him and picking wickets at crucial junctures. The duo has incredible records as a pair, and Indian cricket owes a lot of their victories to these gentlemen, though the batsmen have run away with the laurels in most of the occasions.

It was the year 2001. Kumble was injured and India had the choice of picking from two spinners – Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik. Kartik had a very good domestic season and was expected to make the cut for the Border-Gavaskar trophy. But it was a fortunate turn of events as the skipper Sourav Ganguly believed in Harbhajan and provided him with the big break.

Harbhajan did not disappoint. He bowled a fine spell in the series and ended up with 32 wickets. India won the series and he sealed his berth in the Indian side. This performance earned him the unconditional support of his team-mates as his journey to being India’s frontline spinner commenced. He took giant strides as a spinner and provided Kumble with enough backing.

But things were not hunky-dory after the retirement of his partner. People began to realise that the pressure applied by Kumble at one end of the wicket was the reason behind Harbhajan’s dazzling performances, or so they thought. The talismanic spinner lost his aura and was looking mediocre to the very last thought. He lost his flight, the loop and the doosra, the brahmastra of his arsenal.

Critics targeted Harbhajan, but India was not able to find a suitable replacement for him. It was a shame considering India’s rich spin history. There wasn’t a suitable replacement that could be called ‘threatening’. The Mishras, the Ojhas and the Chawlas were tested, but none had the calibre of Anil Kumble or the Harbhajan of the old. They disappeared after a few chances and India was looking completely clueless for the dearth of fast bowlers has already plagued us for quite some time now.

India had no choice but to retain Harbhajan and put up with his mediocrity. Meanwhile, Ashwin burst on the big stage with credible performances in the Indian Premier League, earning the confidence of his skipper. Dhoni, who was looking for a suitable back-up, picked Ashwin and he was a success overnight. It turned the tables for Harbhajan who was left to toil in the domestic circuit, and rightly so.

Ashwin joined hands with Pragyan Ojha and had a ball in the middle, both literally and figuratively. He was considered as the able successor to Anil Kumble as he was picking up wickets in heap, not to mention the century he scored against West Indies. The bowling looked lethal once more as Ashwin and Ojha cleaned up a brittle New Zealand batting. It looked like India was well set for the England showdown in October-November as the “Aane-do” call went on air.

Dhoni was mighty confident of his team’s chances and BCCI backed him up by not letting the English batsmen play spin in any of their practice matches. The joke was on India as England romped home with a 2-1 series win over India. The shortcomings of the ‘spin-twins’ were put on public display. Dhoni was criticised for not using Harbhajan properly as he was supposedly under bowled in the Mumbai Test.

Meanwhile, Harbhajan was persisted with only on the basis of experience and not due to his current form. He had a rotten form in domestic cricket and the way the rookies handled him in the Ranji trophy implied that the days of the ‘Turbanator’ was gone, well and truly. Still, India did not have a choice as they picked him in the squad to play against Australia. His previous exploits against Australia were kept in mind as the selectors went for him and they expected that a face-off against his old foes would ignite his form.

They couldn’t have been more mistaken. He was selected in the playing eleven ahead of a ‘performing’ Ojha. The reason Dhoni made that selection was due to the presence of more left-handers in the Australian playing eleven even as Laxman criticised Dhoni for ‘under-bowling’ him for a second time in a row.

It was hilarious to hear that comment. Anyone who saw the match could see the difference in level of bowling between him and Ashwin. While Ashwin was weaving magic, Harbhajan looked ordinary next to him. He tried his best; one could say that and leave the judgement to the wise-men of cricket. If they are to regret their decision in the selections, they would probably be pointing Harbhajan’s name on the team list.

Harbhajan did not deserve to get selected; his record in the last two years has been indifferent and so has been his attitude. The zeal to perform and the hunger to pick wickets – the two attributes of Harbhajan are lost forever and India would do better to move on!