While Graeme Smith's decision to walk into the sunset might have caused a stir in the South African dressing room, there was no denying the fact that the recently-surfaced criticism and his personal front were beginning to take a toll on the country's best captain to date. A 281-run defeat to Australia in the first Test, an ankle injury last April and health issues related to his daughter - one could have safely bet Smith was nearing his final walk onto the cricket field.
Thirty-three is not too big a number - definitely not one at which to retire (unless you're under contract with the ECB) but Smith's dismal outing in the ongoing series (just 42 runs at an average of 8.40) is perhaps what proved to be the final nail in the coffin. For a batsman who has coped well with short-pitched bowling over the years, getting out to a Mitchell Johnson bouncer that turned him inside out would have been a tough pill for Smith to swallow.
But let's not get carried away by the whys and hows. Instead, lets look at the fact that Smith has always been a man of character, who in a way injected a second life into South African cricket after their image was tarnished by the late Hansie Cronje during the match-fixing saga. Of course, Shaun Pollock did his bit but Smith was the man who took care of the 'next-gen' South African cricketers and helped the team realise its potential.
Ever since he burst on to the scene as a 22-year-old, Smith has led from the front. His eulogies speak merits. With more than 9,000 Test runs at an average of almost 50 along with 27 hundreds, he is only next to Jacques Kallis in terms of being South Africa's best batsmen. He was there when South Africa chased down the 'then' highest total in ODI of 434 against Australia in what many call the greatest limited-overs encounter to have ever taken place.
To top that, Smith led South Africa in 109 Test matches — more than any other captain in international cricket. With 53 wins and 27 losses to his name, he led the team to the altar of the ICC Test rankings, beating England 2-0 in 2012. There was no doubting Smith's credentials as a captain - even if he was given the responsibility at 22, with just seven matches to his name.
Apart from a win percentage of 53, he even captained the World XI against a rampaging Australian side in 2005. In his first game as captain at Edgbaston, Smith successfully trolled Nasser Hussain by proving exactly what this "22-year-old kid Greg" had in store. If that marathon innings of 277 didn't answer Hussain, the very next innings of 259 at Lord's surely did.
Eventually, Smith led his side to a series win in England in 2008 - their first in 43 years. Under Smith, South Africa have not been beaten in the last 15 Test series. Since the dawn of the new millennium, they are the only side apart from England to win in Australia twice.
Smith's Aussie counterpart Michael Clarke described him as "a lovely fella". Australia, out of all oppositions, remember how tough a bloke Smith has been when he made his way to the crease and faced Johnson all taped up when suffering a broken hand in order to try and save a Test match for his country at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2009. The likes of AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel came into their own during the Smith era, and today are two of them are best in their respective departments.
Now that Smith has called time, the crowd will ensure they turn up in good amount for the last two days of the third final Test at Newlands despite the fact that the home side is battling to avoid defeat, to see Smith take strike one last time. Over 12 years, he has seen it all - the disappointment of not winning two World Cups (despite being strong contenders), three World Twenty20s, three Champions Trophy and having to deal with racism and the chokers' tag. Quite clearly, Smith must feel 43 despite being a decade younger. Hence, he has a lot to catch up.
Smith has a young family to cater to. He has signed a three-year contract with Surrey, revealing it would help his wife be close to her family. And even for that, he has come under criticism from some parts of South Africa. So much that he had to dismiss speculations about him being granted Irish citizenship might have come in the way of his departure from cricket. Let the man breathe for once and get his due credit.
Without Kallis and now Smith, South Africa have a stiff task ahead of them. The next 12 months comprise of away Test series in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe followed by home Tests against West Indies - during which the side would need to build upon the platform that has been set up by Smith's brilliance.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Current Indian team not the one to be taken to World Cup 2015
India are almost a year away from defending their World Cup title. Yet, amid all the speculations that await them in tricky conditions of New Zealand and Australia, the side's basic team composition continues to be the biggest worry. A continuous string of below-par performances away from home has been a sideswipe and India have been struggling to put together a quality playing XI while playing abroad.
The opening pair lacks fire, the middle order looks fragile and the bowling concerns persist. After winning series against Australia and West Indies at home last year, the process of heroes turning into villains began in South Africa and the same story has unfolded in New Zealand. With back-to-back losses, India have managed to relinquish the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings and with passing time recapturing it will only get tougher if necessary changes aren't made soon. As far as MS Dhoni's idea of building a World Cup team goes, quite clearly this is not a side worthy of taking centre-stage in next year's mega event.
Where batting is concerned, the only man seeming reliable at the moment is Virat Kohli who appears to be batting in a zone of his own. Dhoni is trying hard - which is more than can be said for the likes of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja - but coming to bat at No. 6 means that more often than not his batting is marred by limitation. With lesser balls and bigger targets, as great a player as Dhoni may be, one can't always expect him to get India past the finish line - especially when barring Kohli there just aren't enough sizeable contributions. Raina has one half-century (that too against a poor Zimbabwe side) in his last 22 innings dating back to June 2013 for an average of 26.15, and his repeated inclusion has been somewhat baffling. If India want to persist with him, then it should be a spot lower at 6 and Dhoni should bat at 5. But considering the series is on the line in Auckland on Saturday, India should consider shaking things up by trying someone new in Raina's place; Ambati Rayudu and the uncapped seam-bowling allrounder Stuart Binny are the two options. Binny, a big hitter, would be the better option.
At the top, Rohit's ability to soak balls up front isn't exactly something a team needs chasing big totals. On placid Indian surfaces Rohit was able to accelerate his scoring rate rather easily once he had gotten set and given India starts, but this has not been the case away from home. In Johannesburg India were chasing 359 during the first ODI. Rohit ate up 43 balls for 19. In Durban he made 19 off 26 before pulling to short midwicket. In New Zealand he has been unable to force the pace. In Napier, when India were set 293, Rohit made 3 off 23 balls, falling on the first aerial shot he played - a mistimed hook to deep square leg. In Hamilton he made 20 off 34, flashing a loose shot to the wicketkeeper. Away from the comfort of docile Indian tracks, Rohit has struggled to dominate against quality pace bowling. Subsequently, India have not been given good starts and they've not won a match in South Africa or New Zealand.
One batsman fires regularly out of a total of six played, and still the same side is playing matches one after another. In a country where there are as many as 27 Ranji Trophy teams, finding replacements somehow still remains a cause for concern. Yet no measures are being taken to put an end to this miserable itinerary. Swapping Ajinkya Rahane with Rohit should not be a difficult risk to take considering Rahane has spent most part of his cricket either as an opener or at No. 3. He has also opened in 16 out of 20 innings in ODIs and has plenty of IPL success as an opener in the last two seasons.
But beyond Rahane, the man who really needs to be trailed in ODIs is surprisingly not even considered for the format - the sound and technically correct Cheteshwar Pujara. Considered a perfect fit at No. 3 in Tests, in ODIs too Pujara can provide stability and take the added pressure off Kohli. He was the only other centurion in South Africa apart from Kohli - in fact, his 153 at The Wanderers came at a better strike rate than Kohli's 96. Pujara is more than capable of scoring at a brisk pace and at the same time he can play the anchor role as well. Keeping in consideration what the current scenario looks, Pujara needs to get in to the thick of things for the 2015 World Cup. Potentially, Pujara can allow others to bat around him and that could be significant for Kohli and consequently India.
To top all this, a nagging bowling combination continues to infuriate - in particular, the expensive Ishant Sharma and the ineffective R Ashwin. Every cricketer has their share of haters, but Ishant seems to be in a league of his own. Agreed, no Indian pacer is really threatening but few go at an excess of six runs per over every innings. Mohammed Shami is bending his back and Bhuvneshwar Kumar more often than not keeps things tight from his end. But Ishant continues to bowl at the same length - just look back at how James Faulkner smashed him for 30 runs in Mohali last October - and he's been picked on by almost every batsman he's come up against. He's also effortlessly made people rich in the stands.
Ashwin's excessive variations have spelled his demise and fetched him just 32 wickets in the last year. More worrying has been his form overseas: in his last five matches in South Africa and New Zealand Ashwin has gone for 0 for 58, 1 for 48, 0 for 63, 0 for 52 and 0 for 50 - that's one wicket for 271 runs. Despite not being among wickets, Ashwin continues to enjoy the support of his captain and the team management. The other spinner in the current squad is Amit Mishra who has played just one match after his 6 for 48 against Zimbabwe during the 5-0 sweep in Zimbabwe last August. Despite Ashwin's poor outings Mishra remains on the bench. It's time he gets a game.
Varun Aaron and Ishwar Pandey too are waiting in the wings and when they will get a game is anyone's guess, even considering Dhoni's comments after the Hamilton loss that something will need to change. Pandey's exclusion can be understood considering he doesn't have an international cap yet. But Aaron, who came into the limelight for his ability to bowl at over 140kmph consistently, was ushered back into the Indian team since recuperating from a serious back injury. The selectors picked him on promise and did not waste time in calling him back once he got back to competitive cricket, so if he is valued so highly then why isn't Aaron playing in Ishant's place?
India's 2014 schedule is packed with big series abroad. Playing England in June-July and then Australia towards the end in all likeliness will expose India's weakness further. India would want Dhoni to desperately get over the rigidness over persisting with the same side time and again. A squad worthy of competing in Australia and New Zealand will require players with enough international exposure. Changes need to made before it's too late.
The opening pair lacks fire, the middle order looks fragile and the bowling concerns persist. After winning series against Australia and West Indies at home last year, the process of heroes turning into villains began in South Africa and the same story has unfolded in New Zealand. With back-to-back losses, India have managed to relinquish the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings and with passing time recapturing it will only get tougher if necessary changes aren't made soon. As far as MS Dhoni's idea of building a World Cup team goes, quite clearly this is not a side worthy of taking centre-stage in next year's mega event.
Where batting is concerned, the only man seeming reliable at the moment is Virat Kohli who appears to be batting in a zone of his own. Dhoni is trying hard - which is more than can be said for the likes of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja - but coming to bat at No. 6 means that more often than not his batting is marred by limitation. With lesser balls and bigger targets, as great a player as Dhoni may be, one can't always expect him to get India past the finish line - especially when barring Kohli there just aren't enough sizeable contributions. Raina has one half-century (that too against a poor Zimbabwe side) in his last 22 innings dating back to June 2013 for an average of 26.15, and his repeated inclusion has been somewhat baffling. If India want to persist with him, then it should be a spot lower at 6 and Dhoni should bat at 5. But considering the series is on the line in Auckland on Saturday, India should consider shaking things up by trying someone new in Raina's place; Ambati Rayudu and the uncapped seam-bowling allrounder Stuart Binny are the two options. Binny, a big hitter, would be the better option.
At the top, Rohit's ability to soak balls up front isn't exactly something a team needs chasing big totals. On placid Indian surfaces Rohit was able to accelerate his scoring rate rather easily once he had gotten set and given India starts, but this has not been the case away from home. In Johannesburg India were chasing 359 during the first ODI. Rohit ate up 43 balls for 19. In Durban he made 19 off 26 before pulling to short midwicket. In New Zealand he has been unable to force the pace. In Napier, when India were set 293, Rohit made 3 off 23 balls, falling on the first aerial shot he played - a mistimed hook to deep square leg. In Hamilton he made 20 off 34, flashing a loose shot to the wicketkeeper. Away from the comfort of docile Indian tracks, Rohit has struggled to dominate against quality pace bowling. Subsequently, India have not been given good starts and they've not won a match in South Africa or New Zealand.
One batsman fires regularly out of a total of six played, and still the same side is playing matches one after another. In a country where there are as many as 27 Ranji Trophy teams, finding replacements somehow still remains a cause for concern. Yet no measures are being taken to put an end to this miserable itinerary. Swapping Ajinkya Rahane with Rohit should not be a difficult risk to take considering Rahane has spent most part of his cricket either as an opener or at No. 3. He has also opened in 16 out of 20 innings in ODIs and has plenty of IPL success as an opener in the last two seasons.
But beyond Rahane, the man who really needs to be trailed in ODIs is surprisingly not even considered for the format - the sound and technically correct Cheteshwar Pujara. Considered a perfect fit at No. 3 in Tests, in ODIs too Pujara can provide stability and take the added pressure off Kohli. He was the only other centurion in South Africa apart from Kohli - in fact, his 153 at The Wanderers came at a better strike rate than Kohli's 96. Pujara is more than capable of scoring at a brisk pace and at the same time he can play the anchor role as well. Keeping in consideration what the current scenario looks, Pujara needs to get in to the thick of things for the 2015 World Cup. Potentially, Pujara can allow others to bat around him and that could be significant for Kohli and consequently India.
To top all this, a nagging bowling combination continues to infuriate - in particular, the expensive Ishant Sharma and the ineffective R Ashwin. Every cricketer has their share of haters, but Ishant seems to be in a league of his own. Agreed, no Indian pacer is really threatening but few go at an excess of six runs per over every innings. Mohammed Shami is bending his back and Bhuvneshwar Kumar more often than not keeps things tight from his end. But Ishant continues to bowl at the same length - just look back at how James Faulkner smashed him for 30 runs in Mohali last October - and he's been picked on by almost every batsman he's come up against. He's also effortlessly made people rich in the stands.
Ashwin's excessive variations have spelled his demise and fetched him just 32 wickets in the last year. More worrying has been his form overseas: in his last five matches in South Africa and New Zealand Ashwin has gone for 0 for 58, 1 for 48, 0 for 63, 0 for 52 and 0 for 50 - that's one wicket for 271 runs. Despite not being among wickets, Ashwin continues to enjoy the support of his captain and the team management. The other spinner in the current squad is Amit Mishra who has played just one match after his 6 for 48 against Zimbabwe during the 5-0 sweep in Zimbabwe last August. Despite Ashwin's poor outings Mishra remains on the bench. It's time he gets a game.
Varun Aaron and Ishwar Pandey too are waiting in the wings and when they will get a game is anyone's guess, even considering Dhoni's comments after the Hamilton loss that something will need to change. Pandey's exclusion can be understood considering he doesn't have an international cap yet. But Aaron, who came into the limelight for his ability to bowl at over 140kmph consistently, was ushered back into the Indian team since recuperating from a serious back injury. The selectors picked him on promise and did not waste time in calling him back once he got back to competitive cricket, so if he is valued so highly then why isn't Aaron playing in Ishant's place?
India's 2014 schedule is packed with big series abroad. Playing England in June-July and then Australia towards the end in all likeliness will expose India's weakness further. India would want Dhoni to desperately get over the rigidness over persisting with the same side time and again. A squad worthy of competing in Australia and New Zealand will require players with enough international exposure. Changes need to made before it's too late.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Anureet Singh, Railways' smiling assassin with the ball
While at one corner of the globe Mitchell Johnson is busy tormenting England's batting order, almost 5000 miles from Australia a 25-year-old bowler with high hopes and aspirations is creating a buzz in India's most famous domestic tournament - the Ranji Trophy. For Anureet Singh, the distance traveled between wanting to play cricket from the age of 8 and emerging the success story that he is, has been one personified with immense dedication, handwork and a never-say-die attitude.
With four five-wicket hauls from five matches this season, he is now the third-highest wicket-taker (29) behind Himachal Pradesh's Rishi Dhawan (47) and Jalaj Saxena of Madhya Pradesh (32). Anureet has been impeccable with the ball, especially in home games where the heavy Jamia outfield and a tinge of green on the pitch assisted seam bowling over four days. Railways' good show has helped them top Group B with 21 points.
Despite having proved himself as the go-to bowler for Railways, Anureet remains grounded and believes his idea of sticking to the basics has reaped good results. "Every time I bowl, my motive is to pitch the ball in that one area which causes difficulty to the batsmen. That's where my concentration lies and I just want to hit that one spot consistently. No further thoughts have crossed my mind till now and I'm satisfied taking one step at a time," he tells TOI Cricket.
With almost 90 per cent of his wickets being either bowled or lbw, Anureet has perfected the art of stump-to-stump bowling and making the batsmen play. "My coach and captain backed me and believed if I could make the batsman play, results will automatically show", he says.
Anureet's love affair with the game began at a tender age. He expressed his desire to play cricket in front of his family when he was in second standard. But since the family wasn't strong financially, he was asked to study, get a degree and find employment at a place where he would be given a decent pay check. "It was after my 10th Board exams that I told my father cricket is where I want to pursue my career in, and left my studies. So it took some time but eventually he realised I was adamant on my decision and backed it up," says Anureet.
Apart from his father, Anureet's brother played an instrumental role in providing his promising sibling with the early basics requirements. "Even though we weren't financially strong, my brother Jaswinder Singh supported me immensely," says Anureet, who took his 100th first-class wicket in the form of Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund in the second innings this week. "He used to work and stood by me whenever I needed help in terms of money. Looking at him, my father began to see the positive side once I started becoming a part of newspaper cuttings."
Anureet's first outing with the game he loves began at Subhania Cricket Club at the age of 15. After spending four years with the club, he attended a Delhi camp in 2008 from where he got the opportunity to be a part of the Railways side the same year. "I was fortunate enough to play for Railways the year after I got selected. Initially I didn't know much but the support I got here was immense," he says. "[Former India allrounder] Sanjay Bangar was generous enough to believe in my abilities. Then Abhay Sharma sir [Railway coach] bringing me to the squad and Murali Kartik sticking by my side did a lot to make me feel I was ready to take on the challenges."
On top of this, Anureet was signed up by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 and ended up playing the 2009 edition. Despite remaining absent from the playing XI for the next four years, his wait might end in 2014 if he keeps putting up such stellar performances.
Apart from taking wickets regularly, Anureet has been brought in for longer spells from one end, particularly this season. With the kind of toll fast bowling takes on a player's body along with the possibility of injuries, the 25-year-old has sweated it out over his fitness. Being advised to put on weight early on in his career, his physique blew out of proportion which resulted in fatigue and inability to bowl longer. But he was committed to work hard on his bowling during the off season and get back in shape.
"During my stint with KKR, Wasim Akram sir made a point which I always take up as a motivation," says Anureet, who in 2012-13 took 21 wickets in six Ranji games to finish Railways' most successful bowler. "He said every time you experience a low, you need to get back and stick to your strengths. And since I do not consider any bowler bigger than Wasim sir, I just had to take his thoughts into consideration."
Though he has no shortage of praise for Akram, incidentally it is his former Pakistan bowling partner Waqar Younis who Anureet considers his idol and the greatest exponent of swing bowling.
The effort put in by Anureet is clearly evident. In nine innings this Ranji season he has bowled 240 overs and performed like a workhorse. He's gone down to his knees and kissed the pitch every time he's got a five-wicket haul. All this highlights the colossal effort and hard work he's put behind his bowling and Anureet hopes to continue with the good work for the remaining matches. With the next game lined up against Services, he says expectations would be high out of Railways and that he has no particular plans for any particular batsman.
"Services are a quality side. They were last year's semi-finalists. Rajat Palliwal and Yashpal Singh are their key batsmen and expectations would be high from both of them. I haven't planned anything for a particular batsman but as I said, I will stick to my basics and try to land the ball in the right areas," says Anny, as he is fondly called by his team-mates.
Without a doubt, he has been one of the polar reasons for Railways' success with his impressive bowling. However, the Delhi-born Anureet admits he's been working hard on his batting as well. "I have been advised by my coach to pay attention to my batting. Since then I've spent time in the nets with our main batsmen and tried a few tricks. If I observe them carefully I'm sure it'll come to my advantage which will in the long-run be beneficial for the team as well."
If Anureet's current form is an indicator, Railways' chances of putting their hands on the Ranji Trophy may not be a distant possibility.
With four five-wicket hauls from five matches this season, he is now the third-highest wicket-taker (29) behind Himachal Pradesh's Rishi Dhawan (47) and Jalaj Saxena of Madhya Pradesh (32). Anureet has been impeccable with the ball, especially in home games where the heavy Jamia outfield and a tinge of green on the pitch assisted seam bowling over four days. Railways' good show has helped them top Group B with 21 points.
Despite having proved himself as the go-to bowler for Railways, Anureet remains grounded and believes his idea of sticking to the basics has reaped good results. "Every time I bowl, my motive is to pitch the ball in that one area which causes difficulty to the batsmen. That's where my concentration lies and I just want to hit that one spot consistently. No further thoughts have crossed my mind till now and I'm satisfied taking one step at a time," he tells TOI Cricket.
With almost 90 per cent of his wickets being either bowled or lbw, Anureet has perfected the art of stump-to-stump bowling and making the batsmen play. "My coach and captain backed me and believed if I could make the batsman play, results will automatically show", he says.
Anureet's love affair with the game began at a tender age. He expressed his desire to play cricket in front of his family when he was in second standard. But since the family wasn't strong financially, he was asked to study, get a degree and find employment at a place where he would be given a decent pay check. "It was after my 10th Board exams that I told my father cricket is where I want to pursue my career in, and left my studies. So it took some time but eventually he realised I was adamant on my decision and backed it up," says Anureet.
Apart from his father, Anureet's brother played an instrumental role in providing his promising sibling with the early basics requirements. "Even though we weren't financially strong, my brother Jaswinder Singh supported me immensely," says Anureet, who took his 100th first-class wicket in the form of Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund in the second innings this week. "He used to work and stood by me whenever I needed help in terms of money. Looking at him, my father began to see the positive side once I started becoming a part of newspaper cuttings."
Anureet's first outing with the game he loves began at Subhania Cricket Club at the age of 15. After spending four years with the club, he attended a Delhi camp in 2008 from where he got the opportunity to be a part of the Railways side the same year. "I was fortunate enough to play for Railways the year after I got selected. Initially I didn't know much but the support I got here was immense," he says. "[Former India allrounder] Sanjay Bangar was generous enough to believe in my abilities. Then Abhay Sharma sir [Railway coach] bringing me to the squad and Murali Kartik sticking by my side did a lot to make me feel I was ready to take on the challenges."
On top of this, Anureet was signed up by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 and ended up playing the 2009 edition. Despite remaining absent from the playing XI for the next four years, his wait might end in 2014 if he keeps putting up such stellar performances.
Apart from taking wickets regularly, Anureet has been brought in for longer spells from one end, particularly this season. With the kind of toll fast bowling takes on a player's body along with the possibility of injuries, the 25-year-old has sweated it out over his fitness. Being advised to put on weight early on in his career, his physique blew out of proportion which resulted in fatigue and inability to bowl longer. But he was committed to work hard on his bowling during the off season and get back in shape.
"During my stint with KKR, Wasim Akram sir made a point which I always take up as a motivation," says Anureet, who in 2012-13 took 21 wickets in six Ranji games to finish Railways' most successful bowler. "He said every time you experience a low, you need to get back and stick to your strengths. And since I do not consider any bowler bigger than Wasim sir, I just had to take his thoughts into consideration."
Though he has no shortage of praise for Akram, incidentally it is his former Pakistan bowling partner Waqar Younis who Anureet considers his idol and the greatest exponent of swing bowling.
The effort put in by Anureet is clearly evident. In nine innings this Ranji season he has bowled 240 overs and performed like a workhorse. He's gone down to his knees and kissed the pitch every time he's got a five-wicket haul. All this highlights the colossal effort and hard work he's put behind his bowling and Anureet hopes to continue with the good work for the remaining matches. With the next game lined up against Services, he says expectations would be high out of Railways and that he has no particular plans for any particular batsman.
"Services are a quality side. They were last year's semi-finalists. Rajat Palliwal and Yashpal Singh are their key batsmen and expectations would be high from both of them. I haven't planned anything for a particular batsman but as I said, I will stick to my basics and try to land the ball in the right areas," says Anny, as he is fondly called by his team-mates.
Without a doubt, he has been one of the polar reasons for Railways' success with his impressive bowling. However, the Delhi-born Anureet admits he's been working hard on his batting as well. "I have been advised by my coach to pay attention to my batting. Since then I've spent time in the nets with our main batsmen and tried a few tricks. If I observe them carefully I'm sure it'll come to my advantage which will in the long-run be beneficial for the team as well."
If Anureet's current form is an indicator, Railways' chances of putting their hands on the Ranji Trophy may not be a distant possibility.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh present strong case
Away from all the limelight and razzmatazz of international cricket, the Ranji Trophy is busy blazing its own trail. Mumbai continue to live up to their reputation of dominating from the word go and Saurashtra are keeping up the momentum with Cheteshwar Pujara getting among the runs. Services and Jharkhand have faded out after their impressive runs last season whereas Delhi have been a conundrum, unable to bridge potential and performance.
With the league phase of the tournament reaching the halfway stage, it has sprung up surprises not just for the stellar powerhouses but even for the underdogs. Two teams which have gained the most out of it are Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, who have scratched and clawed their way to the top of Group C, ahead of more fancied units like Maharashtra and Hyderabad.
Himachal Pradesh don't boast a rich historic cricket background unlike Mumbai and Saurashtra, thus an arduous season awaited them and the beginning wasn't quite ideal. Their first encounter against Goa was marred by political slugfest when the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was taken over by the state government. But as fate would have it, they were set to embark on a path whose outcome would turn out to be completely opposite to what many might have thought.
With 23 points from five matches Himachal Pradesh sit atop of Group C, with much of their success owing to the captain Rishi Dhawan's growing reputation as an allrounder. The Mandi-born player has scalped 39 wickets at 14.84 and scored 311 runs 51.83 and is hopeful of a call-up from the national selectors as he continues to execute his basic plans.
"It is always about bowling on the fourth stump and aiming for the top of off-stump. But that isn't that simple. Because if you get it slightly wrong, the ball can disappear beyond the boundary," Dhawan recently told the Indian Express. "A lot of people think that when you are playing in the lower group, things are easy. But if you look at domestic cricket, it's not that simple. I have definitely been disappointed with not getting picked for a higher level, but then I can't stop performing and I need to be patient."
Such character might as well have a lot to do with his stint with Mumbai Indians, where he nurtured under the guidance of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting.
Jammu and Kashmir have scripted the second success story of the season. If last year's disastrous outing wasn't enough to dent the team's confidence coming into this season, then pre-season jitters with the resignation of the coach Bishan Singh Bedi didn't leave much room for optimism. Bedi's appointment was considered to be a high point in J&K cricket mainly due to his knack of spotting talent. In fact, the rise of Parvez Rasool was the high point of Bedi's tenure.
A series of sour events and off-field allegories such as Bedi favouring Jammu players worsened the situation. But if their performance is to be examined, the side has done more than just a commendable job overcoming those setbacks. As many as three bowlers are in the leading wicket-takers' list and two have made it to the leading run-scorers' chart.
Rasool, who scored 594 runs at 54 runs an innings with two centuries in 2012-13, has played a key role this season with 314 runs in five matches. Belonging to a cricket family from the town of Bij Behara, Rasool's hard work was never in question. From representing the state at the Under-14 level, to making it big on the cricketing radar, Rasool has come a long way.
But J&K's rise is more than just a one-man show. One of the three who has bagged a spot in the leading wicket-takers' list is Mohammed Mudhasir, unheard of until a few weeks ago. For someone who made his debut in 2008, Mudhasir played the last two seasons for Srinagar Shahjahans in the Kashmir Premier League. Mudhasir allowed the early hitch to get the better of him and on his father's advice, he focussed on studies. But once again, it was Bedi who was on the prowl and provided Mudhasir with a second wind. Batsman Ian Dev Singh, named after two of cricket's greatest allrounders, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev, fell two short of a hundred against Kerala.
It will be interesting to see how these teams fare in the rest of the season. With tougher oppositions lined up, to sustain the ongoing form will be the key challenge. Given the heart-wrenching efforts they have put forward, this can be an eye-opener for some of the complacent sides banking on big names and past reputations to climb up the rankings.
With the league phase of the tournament reaching the halfway stage, it has sprung up surprises not just for the stellar powerhouses but even for the underdogs. Two teams which have gained the most out of it are Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, who have scratched and clawed their way to the top of Group C, ahead of more fancied units like Maharashtra and Hyderabad.
Himachal Pradesh don't boast a rich historic cricket background unlike Mumbai and Saurashtra, thus an arduous season awaited them and the beginning wasn't quite ideal. Their first encounter against Goa was marred by political slugfest when the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was taken over by the state government. But as fate would have it, they were set to embark on a path whose outcome would turn out to be completely opposite to what many might have thought.
With 23 points from five matches Himachal Pradesh sit atop of Group C, with much of their success owing to the captain Rishi Dhawan's growing reputation as an allrounder. The Mandi-born player has scalped 39 wickets at 14.84 and scored 311 runs 51.83 and is hopeful of a call-up from the national selectors as he continues to execute his basic plans.
"It is always about bowling on the fourth stump and aiming for the top of off-stump. But that isn't that simple. Because if you get it slightly wrong, the ball can disappear beyond the boundary," Dhawan recently told the Indian Express. "A lot of people think that when you are playing in the lower group, things are easy. But if you look at domestic cricket, it's not that simple. I have definitely been disappointed with not getting picked for a higher level, but then I can't stop performing and I need to be patient."
Such character might as well have a lot to do with his stint with Mumbai Indians, where he nurtured under the guidance of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting.
Jammu and Kashmir have scripted the second success story of the season. If last year's disastrous outing wasn't enough to dent the team's confidence coming into this season, then pre-season jitters with the resignation of the coach Bishan Singh Bedi didn't leave much room for optimism. Bedi's appointment was considered to be a high point in J&K cricket mainly due to his knack of spotting talent. In fact, the rise of Parvez Rasool was the high point of Bedi's tenure.
A series of sour events and off-field allegories such as Bedi favouring Jammu players worsened the situation. But if their performance is to be examined, the side has done more than just a commendable job overcoming those setbacks. As many as three bowlers are in the leading wicket-takers' list and two have made it to the leading run-scorers' chart.
Rasool, who scored 594 runs at 54 runs an innings with two centuries in 2012-13, has played a key role this season with 314 runs in five matches. Belonging to a cricket family from the town of Bij Behara, Rasool's hard work was never in question. From representing the state at the Under-14 level, to making it big on the cricketing radar, Rasool has come a long way.
But J&K's rise is more than just a one-man show. One of the three who has bagged a spot in the leading wicket-takers' list is Mohammed Mudhasir, unheard of until a few weeks ago. For someone who made his debut in 2008, Mudhasir played the last two seasons for Srinagar Shahjahans in the Kashmir Premier League. Mudhasir allowed the early hitch to get the better of him and on his father's advice, he focussed on studies. But once again, it was Bedi who was on the prowl and provided Mudhasir with a second wind. Batsman Ian Dev Singh, named after two of cricket's greatest allrounders, Ian Botham and Kapil Dev, fell two short of a hundred against Kerala.
It will be interesting to see how these teams fare in the rest of the season. With tougher oppositions lined up, to sustain the ongoing form will be the key challenge. Given the heart-wrenching efforts they have put forward, this can be an eye-opener for some of the complacent sides banking on big names and past reputations to climb up the rankings.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Tendulkar signs off with an innings for India to remember
It was there for all to see as Sachin Tendulkar yielded magic one last time before finally heading into the sunset. A spotless 74 was perhaps an ideal finish, next only to the expectation of him scoring a hundred. But no one cared as the 40,000-odd stood up paying respect to India's most loved son once Narsingh Deonarine scalped the most-priced wicket of his career.
Clearly, it was the best we've seen him play in quite some time. The ball was hitting the middle and the footwork was exemplary. The back-foot punch that went missing for a while came back haunting Tino Best who tried peppering the great man with his antics, only to realise just who the absolute 'Best' was. A few words from the West Indian pacer every now and then did little to rattle Tendulkar. All it fetched him was a smile accompanied by a glorious array of shots.
From the moment he came out to bat and looked up towards the sky, an entire nation knew they had to associate their emotions with him for one last time. Wankhede was graced by many stars, a cricket great in the commentary box, a controversial politician, a silver-screen super hero, and a perfectionist who wasn't promoting a movie. But it did not matter to the individual for whom all this was put together in the first place; for he was aware that this might very well be the last time he ever padded up.
His first boundary was a cut off the backfoot as the ball made a lovely sound off the tri-coloured bat made especially for this occasion. The second was a picture-perfect drive through deep extra-cover which assured him of his timing. Once the nerves settled in, there was no looking back as a long due innings began to unfold. Three straight drives brought the exact same results (no rocket science). A few 'aahs' and 'oohs' might have skipped a few heartbeats in the stands as he attempted and missed a couple of upper cuts. But he was still there in the middle, much to the joy of the onlookers.
Century number 101 is probably what India would have wanted, but falling 26 short of it is something many wouldn't mind as this was any day better than a 90-ball 20 or a 50-ball 15. He came in, played his shots, provided the crowd plenty of reasons to erupt in joy and went out with his head held high, something he richly deserved. His 81 against Australia earlier this year was the last he batted so fluently. With no cobwebs in his head, he blazed through and his 118-ball innings was just a way of thanking 'his' masses.
Every stroke that came out of his willow resulted in massive adulation and celebration. Replays showed his eyes focussing on the ball till the very last second of its release. His punch of the backfoot brought up his half-century after which Tendulkar gestured to the fans by raising his bat. The volume of the cheer went up, Sudhir Gautam waved the flag as always, and many who faked an illness to skip work dint regret their decision. Tendulkar was at his sublime best, in his final innings.
His dismissal would have prompted emptiness to descend upon many a hearts. As he went up towards the dressing room, Sunil Gavaskar thanked him repeatedly on the air but considering his place in the hearts of Indians, words ought to remain insufficient. Rest assured, Cricket and Tendulkar would move on, and so will a billion people. But not before they've had savoured each and every moment of his remaining bit in the field and bid him adieu with a smile and a tear rolling down the cheek.
Clearly, it was the best we've seen him play in quite some time. The ball was hitting the middle and the footwork was exemplary. The back-foot punch that went missing for a while came back haunting Tino Best who tried peppering the great man with his antics, only to realise just who the absolute 'Best' was. A few words from the West Indian pacer every now and then did little to rattle Tendulkar. All it fetched him was a smile accompanied by a glorious array of shots.
From the moment he came out to bat and looked up towards the sky, an entire nation knew they had to associate their emotions with him for one last time. Wankhede was graced by many stars, a cricket great in the commentary box, a controversial politician, a silver-screen super hero, and a perfectionist who wasn't promoting a movie. But it did not matter to the individual for whom all this was put together in the first place; for he was aware that this might very well be the last time he ever padded up.
His first boundary was a cut off the backfoot as the ball made a lovely sound off the tri-coloured bat made especially for this occasion. The second was a picture-perfect drive through deep extra-cover which assured him of his timing. Once the nerves settled in, there was no looking back as a long due innings began to unfold. Three straight drives brought the exact same results (no rocket science). A few 'aahs' and 'oohs' might have skipped a few heartbeats in the stands as he attempted and missed a couple of upper cuts. But he was still there in the middle, much to the joy of the onlookers.
Century number 101 is probably what India would have wanted, but falling 26 short of it is something many wouldn't mind as this was any day better than a 90-ball 20 or a 50-ball 15. He came in, played his shots, provided the crowd plenty of reasons to erupt in joy and went out with his head held high, something he richly deserved. His 81 against Australia earlier this year was the last he batted so fluently. With no cobwebs in his head, he blazed through and his 118-ball innings was just a way of thanking 'his' masses.
Every stroke that came out of his willow resulted in massive adulation and celebration. Replays showed his eyes focussing on the ball till the very last second of its release. His punch of the backfoot brought up his half-century after which Tendulkar gestured to the fans by raising his bat. The volume of the cheer went up, Sudhir Gautam waved the flag as always, and many who faked an illness to skip work dint regret their decision. Tendulkar was at his sublime best, in his final innings.
His dismissal would have prompted emptiness to descend upon many a hearts. As he went up towards the dressing room, Sunil Gavaskar thanked him repeatedly on the air but considering his place in the hearts of Indians, words ought to remain insufficient. Rest assured, Cricket and Tendulkar would move on, and so will a billion people. But not before they've had savoured each and every moment of his remaining bit in the field and bid him adieu with a smile and a tear rolling down the cheek.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Sachin Tendulkar - a habit India will find difficult to let go
It's been a while since Sachin Tendulkar took a call on his retirement. The entire nation continues to be in a trance marred by numbness, heartbreak and choked emotions. The idea of Tendulkar's 'permanent' absence has already given jitters and caused sleepless nights to those who have witnessed the genius create magic for a quarter of a century. And as his glorified path approaches it's end, the entire cricket fraternity readies itself to live through the last two pages of the 'Tendulkar' chapter.
The concept of cricket without Tendulkar evokes an awkward pause along with a mental blackout. It sometimes becomes even more abstruse than imagining Paris without The Eiffel Tower. An entire generation has grown up with him. Over a span of two decades, boys have grown into men and men have moved into the grey zone of age. In a rapidly changing dynamic, Tendulkar has remained the only constant.
No one has entertained the masses quite like Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. His demigod status in India escalated him to a man with mythic proportions. He has been worshipped in temples, had letters written to him in blood and carried the weight of an entire nation. A Tendulkar innings has brought as much joy to business executives as it has to the core society. There was a reason if a barber's clip stopped clanking as his eyes got glued to the TV screen or a train got delayed (according to late Peter Roebuck) when Tendulkar neared a century.
For 25 years, an entire nation has admired Tendulkar, cheered for him and believed in him. In March 1994 when a major part of India was asleep, Tendulkar went bonkers in Auckland, giving Danny Morrison and Gavin Larsen a lesson in batting. A 49-ball 82, and next morning everyone woke up to news of one of the greatest ODI innings ever played. Two years later, a set of Indians currently in the mid-20s was beginning school, when they would hear the elderly lot of their family say "Tendulkar would win us the World Cup this year". Confused, they would indulge themselves into a tiff to swap channels and watch cartoons. With absolutely no clue what was happening at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium in a match between India and Kenya, they saw their kith and kin rejoice as Tendulkar registered his first World Cup hundred.
Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena and Mutthiah Muralitharan all got whacked as Tendulkar lit up India's capital at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium. But India lost, Tendulkar's first World Cup century went in vain. Amid an air of sadness, Indians were introduced to a man who in the years to come would become one of their biggest sources of joy. Kids would acquire the parking lot of their apartments to play, imitate his stance, sometimes even crouch like him and try to speak in Tendulkar's distinct voice - much to the amusement of the onlookers. In short, before any coaching academy, Tendulkar helped instill the element of batting in many youngsters.
Two years to the new millennium and many were scratching their heads trying to learn the fundamentals of the decimal system in a math class. Tendulkar, meanwhile, continued to bat and single-handedly won India the Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah. Two back-to-back hundreds and an over-the-moon Tony Greig generating thrill with his commentary. The world witnessed a 'Desert Storm'. A heartbreak in Chennai and the tragic loss of his father during the '99 World Cup. Yet he was still there, obsessed with his craft. In Nairobi 2000, he derailed Glenn McGrath with a never-seen-before assault, and produced a World Cup moment dispatching Shoaib Akhtar into the stands during the 2003 edition.
Tendulkar has evolved perfectly with time. In fact, he has niched out an entire career reinventing himself. A swashbuckling Tendulkar of the 90s transformed into a more crafted and a more determined Tendulkar who would pile up runs and at the same time entertain thousands in the stadium. The fierce cuts came down but the deft paddle sweeps got added to his repertoire. He wouldn't step down the wicket too often but would not let even a single ball on middle-leg go unpunished. He won't pull or hook with the same intensity but would upper-cut at ease. At times, he would even push himself down the order and still average 38.84 in 61 games. His 200* came in his 442nd ODI, a point where batsmen think of a life beyond cricket. Purely through the force of will, he has conquered and blazed through.
Tendulkar and the Indian emotion go hand-in-hand. Whenever Sachin has played well, India has slept well. A humongous roar signalled his entry into the middle and his dismissal would result in television sets being switched off. People at work carefully pressed Alt+Tab to switch between windows and keep an eye on Tendulkar. He played and played; and from a 16-year-old prodigy, eventually became India's most loved man. As many say, Tendulkar has become a habit for Indians, which they will find difficult to let go.
Gifting India countless memories to cherish, the 'Once In a Lifetime' cricketer has intended to call it a day. Means he has freed us all from the Tendulkar affect. Means we no longer have to associate our emotions with him; means there will no longer be an eruption of joy at the fall of India's second wicket; means following cricket might as well be edited off as hobby from many CVs.
When that moment finally arrives on November 18, an emptiness would descend upon many a hearts. But rest assured, the game will move on, Sachin would move on and so will a billion people. But not before they've had savoured each and every moment of his last two outings and bid him adieu with a smile and a tear rolling down the cheek.
The concept of cricket without Tendulkar evokes an awkward pause along with a mental blackout. It sometimes becomes even more abstruse than imagining Paris without The Eiffel Tower. An entire generation has grown up with him. Over a span of two decades, boys have grown into men and men have moved into the grey zone of age. In a rapidly changing dynamic, Tendulkar has remained the only constant.
No one has entertained the masses quite like Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. His demigod status in India escalated him to a man with mythic proportions. He has been worshipped in temples, had letters written to him in blood and carried the weight of an entire nation. A Tendulkar innings has brought as much joy to business executives as it has to the core society. There was a reason if a barber's clip stopped clanking as his eyes got glued to the TV screen or a train got delayed (according to late Peter Roebuck) when Tendulkar neared a century.
For 25 years, an entire nation has admired Tendulkar, cheered for him and believed in him. In March 1994 when a major part of India was asleep, Tendulkar went bonkers in Auckland, giving Danny Morrison and Gavin Larsen a lesson in batting. A 49-ball 82, and next morning everyone woke up to news of one of the greatest ODI innings ever played. Two years later, a set of Indians currently in the mid-20s was beginning school, when they would hear the elderly lot of their family say "Tendulkar would win us the World Cup this year". Confused, they would indulge themselves into a tiff to swap channels and watch cartoons. With absolutely no clue what was happening at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium in a match between India and Kenya, they saw their kith and kin rejoice as Tendulkar registered his first World Cup hundred.
Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena and Mutthiah Muralitharan all got whacked as Tendulkar lit up India's capital at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium. But India lost, Tendulkar's first World Cup century went in vain. Amid an air of sadness, Indians were introduced to a man who in the years to come would become one of their biggest sources of joy. Kids would acquire the parking lot of their apartments to play, imitate his stance, sometimes even crouch like him and try to speak in Tendulkar's distinct voice - much to the amusement of the onlookers. In short, before any coaching academy, Tendulkar helped instill the element of batting in many youngsters.
Two years to the new millennium and many were scratching their heads trying to learn the fundamentals of the decimal system in a math class. Tendulkar, meanwhile, continued to bat and single-handedly won India the Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah. Two back-to-back hundreds and an over-the-moon Tony Greig generating thrill with his commentary. The world witnessed a 'Desert Storm'. A heartbreak in Chennai and the tragic loss of his father during the '99 World Cup. Yet he was still there, obsessed with his craft. In Nairobi 2000, he derailed Glenn McGrath with a never-seen-before assault, and produced a World Cup moment dispatching Shoaib Akhtar into the stands during the 2003 edition.
Tendulkar has evolved perfectly with time. In fact, he has niched out an entire career reinventing himself. A swashbuckling Tendulkar of the 90s transformed into a more crafted and a more determined Tendulkar who would pile up runs and at the same time entertain thousands in the stadium. The fierce cuts came down but the deft paddle sweeps got added to his repertoire. He wouldn't step down the wicket too often but would not let even a single ball on middle-leg go unpunished. He won't pull or hook with the same intensity but would upper-cut at ease. At times, he would even push himself down the order and still average 38.84 in 61 games. His 200* came in his 442nd ODI, a point where batsmen think of a life beyond cricket. Purely through the force of will, he has conquered and blazed through.
Tendulkar and the Indian emotion go hand-in-hand. Whenever Sachin has played well, India has slept well. A humongous roar signalled his entry into the middle and his dismissal would result in television sets being switched off. People at work carefully pressed Alt+Tab to switch between windows and keep an eye on Tendulkar. He played and played; and from a 16-year-old prodigy, eventually became India's most loved man. As many say, Tendulkar has become a habit for Indians, which they will find difficult to let go.
Gifting India countless memories to cherish, the 'Once In a Lifetime' cricketer has intended to call it a day. Means he has freed us all from the Tendulkar affect. Means we no longer have to associate our emotions with him; means there will no longer be an eruption of joy at the fall of India's second wicket; means following cricket might as well be edited off as hobby from many CVs.
When that moment finally arrives on November 18, an emptiness would descend upon many a hearts. But rest assured, the game will move on, Sachin would move on and so will a billion people. But not before they've had savoured each and every moment of his last two outings and bid him adieu with a smile and a tear rolling down the cheek.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The wait that was finally WORTH
When Dhawan finally debuted in whites three years after his first ODI appearance, many expected him to perhaps have a few butterflies, but he instead went hammer and tonks ruining the figures of every bowler that there was. A crunch drive through the covers off Siddle after lunch launched a flurry of textbook strokes all around the PCA stadium. One session was all it took the hosts to put the pressure right back on to the Aussies.
Prior to this innings, Shikhar Dhawan has always been a household name in the Indian Domestic Circuit. The under-19 man of the series in 2004 was just a testiment of the calibur the Delhi boy possessed. Inconsistency is what perhaps kept him out of the national all this while but as they said it's never too late. Dhawan averaged a staggering 55.83 this season with four hundreds and three fifties before finally realising his dream. It was one of those days where an ardent cricket lover gets his eyeballs treated. An innings of 187 on dubut, was a class example of pure elegance displayed by a left-hand batsman.
Nine years is an agonizing wait, keeping in mind the credentials of a player as Shikhar Dhawan. All the years of scratching and clawing his way to the top, he made his mark in a way that a very few have. His innings, laced with 33 boundaries and a strike rate of 107, which made his 'handlebar' moustache more convincing to look. It wouldn't be incorrect to say that Dhawan came into this game as a batting veteran in this game following his experienced stint in the domestic front. He had nothing to lose. From the very moment he walked into the field, he was probably more inclined to indicate rather than to impress. It takes a lot to make it to the national Test squad considering the names it is stacked with. Ask Wasim Jaffer, who over the years has continued to pile on runs season after season and was still ignored by the selectors.
Indian selectors have never been known for their 'surprise' element. But keeping in mind the way the 27-year old's debut fared out, Sandeep Patil seems to have pulled a rabit out of the hat. Post the 2011 World Cup, India's opening pair had hit rock-bottom and with Gautam Gambhir and Virender finally out of contention for a while, Dhawan eventually turned out be the answer to the missing link for the opening slot. With Vijay too coming good in Hyderabad and Mohali, the duo provide hope. It was an ominous sign seeing Vijay being his composed self and not matching Dhawan shot for shot. As it is often said in Cricket, it is best to leave the batsman in his zone when he's in this kind of mood.
It was one of those days when everything fell right into place. The pulls were authoritative, the feet were moving, the head was straight and the balance was immaculate. Tell him to walk on water, and he would do that. Not even once during his stay at the crease, was there any element of risk. He played every ball on its merit and even dispatched the good ones to the ropes. A perfect blend of flamboyance and substance, this was a man who believed this moment was long overdue. Cricketnext's heading was more than appropriate, Dhawan "DEMOLISHES" Australia. I would have insisted with 'hammers' though.
To think that his exploits with the bat may have a lot to give to the advent of T20. If that is to be believed, then we might as well think that Mohinder Amarnath was known more for his singing than playing Cricket. It is, in Geoffrey Boycott's trademark voice "Utter Rubbish". It might although be safe to say that this generation of cricketers have a habit of using the long handle to perfection, but that however, doesn't credit IPL with Dhawan's heroics. He's just an artist, obsessed with his craft. A struggler who has done possibly everything to earn this long overdue success. The monkey was off his back and his innings meant more to him than just statistics.
There wasn't a shot he dint play not matching to the standards of the coaching manual. He did not put a foot wrong and carved his place in the history books without breaking a sweat. That tinch of hurry in completing his hundredth run and then that expression of relief on his face was quite obviously a sign of someone finally realzing his fairytale. He had written a script of his own and made sure that he is to be kept in mind for time to come. Shikhar Dhawan had finally come a long way to produce an innings of a lifetime, after getting a blob to his name on his ODI debut in 2010.
His 187 off 174 balls is a testiment to his long wait. To finally see him making his mark on the Test arena is the way forward for Indian cricket. With experience, he will only nurture but what remains to be seen is how long do selectors persist with him once Sehwag and Gambhir come back into the fray of things. He's out with a broken hand for the final Test at Kotla, and Ajinkya Rahane much like Dhawan in Mohali is waiting in the wings to make his first Test appearance posing a brittle challenge. But till then, let us all let Shikhar Dhawan sink in his moment of glory until time gets stiffer and competition more fierce.
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