As if sticking to the old adage, “Leave when people are left wondering ‘why now’ not ‘why not’?”, Rahul Sharad Dravid has bid goodbye to the chair of captaincy after leading India to its first series triumph over England in 21 years. India’s most reliable batsman has been quoted as saying that he was not enjoying the captaincy any more, that he wanted to concentrate on his batting, etc. And the cricket board chief, Sharad Rao Pawar, has said that Dravid had indicated his inclination a while ago. And there are reports of “shock” at the decision. Some like Bishen Singh Bedi are wondering if Dravid had abdicated “responsibility”, some others like Chetan Chauhan has said Dravid had got his timing wrong.
Questions: Who should succeed Dravid? Should the mantle pass on to Sachin Tendulkar, as is being widely rumoured, who recently told an interviewer that he had not enjoyed his previous tenures? Should it go to a younger person like Virender Sehwag or Mahender Singh Dhoni? Or should it go to a rank “outsider” like V.V.S. Laxman? Has Dravid quit to concentrate on batting, or is his resignation the firmest evidence that the knives have been out for him within the team since the World Cup, culminating in the hoo-ha over his decision not to enforce the follow-on in the Oval Test?
Photograph: Karnataka Photo News
Laxman, Sehwag? you got to be kidding! The next step for Sachin is retirement not captaincy! But considering that he always thinks the world revolves around him, I won’t be surprised if he accepts the inevitable offer from his sychopants (pawar and vengsarkar). Batting mainstays cannot and should not be made captain. That rules even Yuvraj out. Dhoni is the natural choice. His keeping is ok, he has a cool head, seems to have good equations with his colleagues and his batting anyway is always hit and miss.
Why not make Kumble as an interim captain ? Thee cannot be any pressure on his batting !! He is still a match winner if a test is played in India.
this brings into focus the state of indian cricket,
all other teams are looking ahead smith,mahela,collingwood,ashraful,shoaib malik are young captains . 7 years back sachin was captain, he will be captain again–it happens only in india.
why not make sachin tendulkar player cum coach? this will achieve sharad pawar’s and ajit wadekar’s ambition of having a maharashtrian as captain. and they will have a coach who knows the inside out of the team. plus, this can be sachin’s retirement plan. he is 34-35. for the next 25 years, he can be coach since cricket is the only thing he knows.
Dear All,
I would like Kulla to the captain now. With the dwindling popularity of cricket, other sports will pick up and go forward. Who really wants to see Kulla’s face in ads and endorsements!:)
Sachin Tendulkar should not be made captain again. He failed miserable with it in the past. Give it to Anil Kumble http://theprodigysachintendulkar.blogspot.com/