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Showing posts with label Virender Sehwag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virender Sehwag. Show all posts
Rahul-Mayank can be as potent as Sehwag-Gambhir
But in the absence of seniors, they need to do more than just mark their presence
In Virat Kohli’s absence, his deputy, KL Rahul became the Test captain. Far from a certainty in the team, till only a few Tests back, what catapulted Rahul into this leadership role? Last year’s 129 against England, at Lord’s, was followed by a string of low scores. But Ajinkya Rahane’s indifferent batting form, uncertainty over his Test spot, continuous non-selection for the white-ball format, made him lose his vice-captaincy.
Meanwhile, Rahul is more a less a certainty across the white-ball format. Four 50s in his last five T20I innings (vs Afghanistan, Namibia, Scotland in the T20 World Cup) and another against New Zealand at Ahmedabad. But even before this, he was the Punjab Kings’ skipper, and possibly one of India’s T20 batting mainstays. His ODI numbers are equally impressive.
Added to Kohli’s absence, was Rohit Sharma’s absence – perhaps the only other batting certainty across formats for India.
Yet, Punjab Kings under KL Rahul were far from impressive. Whether it is the squad or team selection, Punjab has been a largely rudderless IPL entity. Yet for a while, such has been the preoccupation with Kohli and Rohit, that Rahul the batsman, and not Rahul the leader was picked, first, for vice-captaincy, then almost by default, for the captaincy at the Wanderers.
India’s senior-most Test players, Cheteshwar Pujara (94 Tests) and Ravichandran Ashwin (83 Tests) much like Rahane (81 Tests) are not all-format players. KL Rahul is, by the look of it, being slated to be one. After his exceptional match-winning innings at Centurion, Rahul’s stock rose manifold.
Rahul of 42 Tests, batting average of 36, nowhere close to a Test mainstay, with 2 of his 7 Test centuries in his last two series (both overseas), was made captain. In addition to captaincy, Rahul opens the batting. In addition to negotiating the new ball, he also has to secure his spot in the team.
It’s out of such adversity that strong leaders are born. Yet as has been obvious in Rahul’s IPL captaincy, leading a weak batting lineup has thwarted his own batsmanship making him even opine that strike rate is over-rated. If Pujara said that, it would be understandable. But when someone with a strike-rate of 142 in T20Is says that, it calls for thought. Is Rahul thinking too much? How did David Warner lead an equally weak SRH batting line up, yet not compromise on his attacking play or leadership for years? Much like Rahul, Warner was captain, opener and batting mainstay of his IPL franchise. Rahul is not yet 30, Warner is 35, and perhaps there is still time for him to come into his own. Or is there? Is he too laidback, in his own shell, to lead and inspire a team that needs that extra push?
Perhaps the greatest disservice by making Rahul captain or even the deputy is that it could dilute the impact of the Rahul-Mayank opening, one that is even more critical overseas. If Mayank Agarwal were to play a winning hand in the last Test, would the selectors have the audacity to drop its interim Test captain when Rohit Sharma returns? Unlikely.
Although Mayank has played only 18 Tests (out of which 11 are overseas), he has a batting average of 45.38 (more than Rahul, Rahane and Pujara and only less than Kohli). In Rahul’s absence, Mayank could be the next Punjab Kings’ captain. He is yet to make his T20I debut, and has played only 5 ODIs, but in India’s batting merry go round, he could easily be the next flavour. Just as Unmukt Chand was, not too long ago.
Mayank is barely a year older than Rahul, both are good friends, with a batting understanding that goes back a long way. In the cryptic ways of Indian cricket, the continuous absences of Kohli and Rohit, Rahul and Mayank can forge a batting renaissance in Indian cricket. Even be the next Sehwag-Gambhir. Just as Sehwag-Gambhir were from Delhi, Rahul-Mayank are from Bangalore. Both are mates too. Both can be equally attacking on top, while Mayank's prowess against spin is no less than Gambhir’s in his heyday. Rahul can be just as destructive as Sehwag, scoring all-round the wicket. And much like Sehwag, Rahul hasn’t shown any leadership qualities at his IPL franchise. Both have Punjab Kings in common, moving from their city franchise to it.
If and when Rohit returns, how will they accommodate Mayank? Will selection be able to sever long, accomplished batting ties – will it be prepared to move on? Also, considering Rohit’s continuous fitness problems, he may even decide to ration his Test cricket. If not retire from it altogether and focus only on white-ball cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan last played a Test match in September, 2018. He was not part of India’s T20 World Cup squad last year. But he did lead India for the twin white-ball series in Sri Lanka. Over the years, he has been one of India’s leading ODI batsmen; as also one of Delhi Capitals’ highest scorers repeatedly. The leadership role eluded him at DC, and he wasn’t retained by the franchise. Dhawan is part of the ODI series in South Africa. Mayank is not.
However, it seems inevitable, that if India are to win their first Test series in South Africa, their openers will have to lead the way. A telling contribution from Mayank, could still force his late inclusion for the ODIs.
***
Even if Kohli returns to lead in Cape Town, if he continues to remain absent with the bat, the noises will only increase. It may not be too far-flung to even see him relinquish the Test captaincy too. And therein lies the opportunity for Rahul-Mayank to stamp their presence on this fading batting order.
First published here
Thoughtful yet not passive, Gambhir was a rarity in Indian cricket.
It’s been a
few years since I visited your profile page. And I had almost forgotten what
your Test average was. I was surprised when I saw it wasn’t 45. Who would have
thought that it’s only 41.95?
Decimal
points are important with Gambhir. You’d expect him to tell you his average
down to the last decimal point. No approximations.
Gambhir
remembers. You always get the impression he does. A duel. A decimal. A defeat.
Delhi. Delhi Daredevils.
Gambhir
rarely minces words, you think he remembers because he will remind you he
hasn’t forgotten. He tends to say things most Indian cricketers don’t. He is
far from copybook. He tends to write things most Indian cricketers don’t. With
him, you can be sure there is no ghostwriter. There is a peculiarity, almost an
oddness in his writing that makes it refreshing.
His writing
will swing between strange observations and excessive bonhomie with one of his
KKR mates. Perhaps, because KKR was one team, more than any he played for, that
was his own – he helmed it, he drove it, he flew it, he flew with it. He
embraced KKR as KKR and Kolkata embraced him, firmly. There was never any
ambiguity, just as there was an abundance of ambiguity with his previous
franchise.
A franchise
so clueless, it didn’t know who its captain or opener ought to be then; a
franchise so clueless, it doesn’t know its name. From that cluelessness,
Gambhir straddled KKR. Yet he never forgot, should he? But he returned, should
he have? A nameless, faceless franchise can only fasten a cricketer’s decline.
Gambhir’s return, did just that.
It seems so
long, it’s easy to forget, somewhere in-between when Gambhir moved franchises,
he moved mountains for India. In his retirement documentary, Gambhir has reminded
us that he was there in 2007 and 2011. Top scorer. In those two World Cup
triumphs. Why? Because you may have forgotten.
In MSD’s
feature film, we were reminded of Gambhir’s dismissal in the 2011 World Cup
Final.
In 2012, in
Australia, Gambhir was in the batting form of his life. Gambhir was also in the
speaking form of his life. He questioned an Indian chase. He questioned Dhoni’s
tactics. He questioned Dhoni.
In two
consecutive games, Gambhir was dismissed in the 90s – 92(111) and 91(106). In
two consecutive games, Dhoni was there at the end. Unbeaten with 44(58) and 58(69).
The first match was won with two balls to spare, the second was a last ball
finish.
"We shouldn't
have taken the game to the 50th over. That's my personal observation. I know
it's always easier to talk when you are in the dressing room and it's always
tough in the middle, but my personal observation is we shouldn't have let this
game go into the last over” – Gautam Gambhir
"In the previous
matches, we left it for the lower order batsmen. Yeah, we should have finished
the previous game in the 48th over. When you are chasing it is very important
to take it to the end." – MS Dhoni
On
April 2, 2011, in the World Cup Finals, Gambhir made 97(122). India won with
ten balls to spare. Dhoni unbeaten 91(79).
In
all three ODIs, Gambhir was the highest scoring Indian batsman. On all three
occasions, Dhoni was unbeaten at the end. In two out of the three ODIs, Dhoni
was Man of the match. Gambhir in spite of his highest score was Man of the
match in only one game.
Gambhir’s
fourth score in the 90s (90 off 84 balls) in an ODI was against Bangladesh.
Dhoni did not bat that day. Suresh Raina won that match with 116 (107).
Gambhir
last played an ODI in 2013. He played his last Test in 2016. Dhoni retired from
Test cricket in 2014.
*****
"To me, he is the
best opener India has had since Gavaskar." – Virender Sehwag, April 2009.
After
saving the Napier Test with 137 (436 balls, 643 minutes). After India’s push
for a win in Wellington with 167 (257 balls, 352 minutes).
“having come from my
favourite player it means a lot to me” – Gautam Gambhir, April, 2009.
Once upon a
time, Sehwag-Gambhir were like Sehwag-Gambhir. You couldn’t compare them, not
on the field, not off it. Their sound bites were like love bites. Their batting
had bite. God and Sachin’s hand rested upon them. When the greats failed to
read Mendis and Murali in 2008, these two did their thing as if it were just
another Ranji home game.
Gautam
Gambhir inside out, carving a spinner, because it was meant to be. Gautam
Gambhir running himself out, because it was meant to be. Gautam Gambhir leaving
his pads on for posterity, because it was meant to be. Gautam Gambhir talking
without a pause, for there is so much to be said before the commercial break.
*****
It’s almost
uncanny that Gambhir led a group of what-if-Indian cricketers at KKR. That he
led the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey and Piyush Chawla
to two IPL trophies amongst them says something about him as a leader of men.
Perhaps,
Gambhir never stopped believing in someone like Yusuf, because he never stopped
believing in himself.
After the
first IPL, we wondered what Australia would’ve been like under Shane Warne.
Begs the question, after those twin IPL wins, what India would’ve been like
under Gautam Gambhir?
One thing’s
for sure, we wouldn’t have ever had to wait for a last ball six.
***
Here’s to a
rare Indian cricketer, who found it possible to be thoughtful yet not passive.
First published here
How to make a Pakistani captain three Indians
The first step in coming up with a successful all-time playing XI is to make sure you don’t really care if it’s successful. You just care that it is read, ridiculed, re-read, ridiculed some more – to do this, there is a sure-shot way, you do what Greg Chappell was dying to do as India’s coach, you do not include Sachin Tendulkar in the playing XI.
Headlines like Tendulkar not in "so and so playing XI" will follow. They cause so much debate and hate, it could quite possibly spawn another movie – Sachin: A Billion Nightmares.
Why then does someone not include Tendulkar in his playing XI? It’s bad enough not including him in your all-time Test XI, but to exclude him from an all-time ODI XI, defies all logic. But then, maybe that’s what they are meant to do.
Also, whether you choose to like or not like Tendulkar is up to you, there are enough people who neutralise your dislike, and they too can be equally incorrigible.
All-time playing XIs are best made with the heart, and the bit of logic that is there without sifting through stat pages – they should be a reflection of your inner-most cricketing desires, they are a shot at playing cricketing god, and if that means excluding a cricketing god, so be it.
As for me, Tendulkar’s one-day batting average and strike rate, sublime as they are, are etched deep. But it's something more than his high average and strike rate (great for his era, great for that era, great for every era) that make him into my playing XI.
Beyond winning or not winning enough games, is the massive emotional connect with all sorts – and just having him in the team will ensure this is a much loved team. Not having him might just ensure nobody cares or watches this team.
It may be both unsuccessful, on the field, and commercially too. So with all kinds of sponsors, my all-time XI starts counting. I would’ve called it Sachin’s all-time XI, but if I remember correctly, even Sachin didn’t pick Sachin in that. Because he’s Sachin, people chose to forgive him.
While Sehwag remains one of my favourite cricketers of all time, and he’d walk into my Test XI, I’m set on a bunch of Australians - Hayden or Gilchrist?
Without checking on stats to muddle my thinking, I’d say, Sehwag’s batting average in the mid-30s is greatly compensated by his strike rate - that’s 100, isn’t it? Or nearly? Or in excess? In my mind, it’s run-a-ball. And as I write this, I think of the Sachin-Sehwag opening, what it did for each other and us. And the Gilchrist-Hayden opening, and what it did to us.
Also, picking Sachin on top and not picking Sehwag would be a disservice to Sachin – how he’d combine with either Hayden or Gilchrist I really wonder?
But this is not a Sachin Benefit XI, or is it? Sehwag’s scarcely used, much under-rated off-spin though, (and perhaps my blind-spot for him) tilts it in his favour.
At three, I’d have two number threes – Ricky Ponting at three if the team bats first, Virat Kohli at three if the team chases. Either way, we just sealed two positions in barely one-and-a-half sentences.
Ponting and Kohli both have ruthless domination in their cricketing DNA. After a Sachin-Sehwag start, these two will show no mercy. As a cricket fan, you will sing, as a non-fan, so will Bob Dylan.
At five, Viv Richards. Or still better, at three or four or five, Viv Richards. He should bat where he wants. He should bat and play, because every team aspires to greatness, with Richards, it attains it with a mere swagger, a simple chew. What follows with a stare, a pull, a move, a simple cricketing groove, is cricket of the gods. Also, he is god’s god.
And if the broadcasters want a player wired up to chat to, Richards should be asked to laugh that incredible laugh. With BB King on guitar. Richards is the king, cricket is his kingdom, and we, if nothing else, his subjects.
Five spots and no left-handed batsman in yet?
Bring in Adam Gilchrist for heaven’s sake – this man is the limited overs game, the domination, and a frenzy that destroys opposition’s minds. He finishes teams with the bat like few have, and still fewer will. Gilchrist, because he’s the closest to nature’s fury with a bat in hand.
Six gone, and no Dhoni or bowler yet? This team is getting a little lopsided. Correction: Gilchrist moves up, opens with Tendulkar, sorry, Sehwag. Dhoni at six. And between Gilchrist and Dhoni, they can toss who keeps wickets. When Dhoni doesn’t keep, he bowls a few overs of seam up.
At seven, the captain, Imran Khan. If a player can lead the Pakistani team to a World Cup win, then he’s good to lead any team, real or unreal. Imran, like others in this team, is beyond numbers – his is the aura of greatness, of control, of both cool and intensity.
His is the rare gift of cutting across borders and egos, he is the thought that will bind greatness, that will make great cricketers perform to their potential. Someone should ask him to speak to Rohit Sharma.
How can you not have a playing XI that’s hardwired to cool and not have Shahid Afridi in it – under Imran, he might lose some of his impetuosity but none of his Afridi. Under Imran, he will become a carbon copy of Shahid Afridi, just as young and Mad Max but almost 87 per cent more effective.
How this will be achieved, not even Afridi will know; because Afridi just does. Afridi will also be ideal for post-match chats where he will babble and even leave Shastri speechless; “something will give…”
Even if they don’t hunt in pairs, he is Sachin’s buddy – bring in Shane Warne. He will be Imran’s co-commander, and in-charge when Imran is unavailable, out campaigning.
Warne will bring theatre and venom with his leg spin, he will also go on to bowl another ball of another century for this all-time eleven. Imran and he will get on like a house on fire, they will keep both their boys and girls happy. They will keep themselves happy.
Glenn McGrath will be happy to open the bowling. He will nick a few early on (but not Sachin this time) and kill the game. He will do it match after match, and be unpopular with his batting mates as they will have tiny targets to chase down in their sleep.
Curtly Ambrose’s steep bounce will nick a few off the batsman’s mind, it will leave them mindless. Ambrose will smile that knowing smile. And all will be wonderful with the world and my all-time playing XI.
They would’ve won on paper, won off paper, won in my mind, won in my heart. It wouldn’t be about a single statistic. It wouldn’t even be about winning. It would be about making me very happy. And what else are all-time playing XIs anyway? Oh right, making Sachin unhappy.
All-time ODI playing XI:
Sachin Tendulkar
Adam Gilchrist
Virat Kohli
Ricky Ponting
Viv Richards
MS Dhoni
Imran Khan
Shahid Afridi
Shane Warne
Glenn McGrath
Curtly Ambrose
12th Man: Stuart Binny (nobody does the drinks like he does).
First published here
Why you should look to buy a captain at the IPL Auctions
On the face
of it, KXIP (Kings XI Punjab) appeared to be beyond repair when they went into
the IPL Auctions. Also on the face of it, what they needed was just one player –
a T20 captain. What they were making do with until now, was an excellent Test
batsman, doubling up as their opening batsman and T20 captain. Don’t let Vijay’s
twin T20 hundreds fool you, they were made a long time back – in 2010 and 2012.
Well before he harnessed his powers as a supreme Test batsman for India. With
Vijay at the helm, KXIP were forced to play him, have him open the innings, no
matter what.
Murali
Vijay and T20s are an odd couple, somewhat like Suresh Raina and Test cricket.
IPL Season 9’s
numbers, however, tell a different story: Vijay knocked 453 runs at an average
of 35, striking at 124. For three years prior to this he was striking at less
than 110 with an average in the early 20s.
Season 9
could well be an exception. Vijay’s scoring is by and large built on boundaries.
When the boundaries dry up, the runs invariably dry up. This was the precise
reason, Vijay failed to cut it as an ODI batsman. A strike rate of less than
70, only one half century, that too, in his last series, against Zimbabwe. An
ODI batting average of 21 isn’t too flattering either.
With all
this limited overs’ baggage, KXIP made Vijay their captain. Possibly, because
after the rough run with David Miller and Glenn Maxwell, they didn’t know where
else to look.
Not until
this IPL Auction, with former KXIP captain, Virender Sehwag as their mentor. For
all his brilliance with the bat, Sehwag was never meant to be captain. Not for India,
not for Delhi Daredevils, and not for KXIP either. Captaincy never sat on his
shoulders as a bat did in his hands.
One of
Vijay’s IPL centuries will vouch for that. As Daredevils’ skipper, Sehwag
opened with a spinning rookie, Sunny Gupta, playing his first IPL match against
Vijay – in a Qualifying Final. A demolition followed. Not to be outdone, Vijay
as KXIP skipper, bowled Axar Patel in the last over against MS Dhoni – 23 runs
later, MSD won Pune the match. There is still the odd chance that Sehwag-Vijay
could be running the show at Punjab, and you fear for them.
But they
don’t have to. At the auction table, Punjab bagged England captain, Eoin Morgan
and former West Indies’ captain, Darren Sammy. There are two World T20s in
there, both under Sammy’s watch. Sammy doesn’t turn up for the Windies, and
there’s a good chance he may not for Punjab. He makes an exceptional cheerleader,
and may only play once Morgan flies back home to play South Africa.
Perennial
contenders for the wooden spoon, Delhi Daredevils (DD) appear to have purchased
a lot of goodies at the auction. What they still haven’t got though, is a
captain who can guide the team independent of coach, Paddy Upton and mentor,
Rahul Dravid’s remote control.
There’s
some progressive thought brewing behind DD lines – thought that almost
disregards the outcome because of the significance attached to the process. In
JP Duminy, Angelo Mathews and Zaheer Khan, they might have readymade captains –
but DD needs to ask themselves some tough questions, do these players always
pick themselves in the playing XI.
It could
well be a repeat of when then DD captain, Mahela Jayawardene rested himself so
another overseas’ player could take his place in the middle.
Then again,
underestimate Upton and Dravid at your own peril. They’re fully capable of
making 19-year-old, Rishabh Pant captain. After all, he’s just taken over Delhi’s
one-day captaincy from Gautam Gambhir.
As with T20
cricket, so too with T20 captaincy, it’s better to go with the gut than
overthink it. Who knows, Sehwag might finally have applied his ‘see-ball,
hit-ball’ policy to an all-new ‘see-captain, make-captain’.
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