Sachin Tendulkar‘s decision to turn down the offer to be the Test captain of the Indian cricket team for the third time, has turned conventional cricketing wisdom on its head. On the one hand, the single-point agenda of BCCI chief Sharad Pawar and chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar, seemed to have been to install the “Bandra Bomber” once again at the helm. But Sachin’s decision, citing personal reasons, changes the plot a bit and throws open the third most important job in the country.
Questions: Was Sachin right in listening to his “inner voice” or wrong? Has the manner in which senior players like Rahul Dravid have been treated been “The Colonel” a motivating factor? Or was the fact that he was up against Pakistan and mighty Australia at the fag end of his career, which could alter the manner in which people view his legacy, behind the move? Should one-day and T20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni take on the mantle? Or is the time ripe for the ethereal Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman?
whatever, all i know is dravid just saved the day for us, and saved us the blushes with a fighting 215. ‘ble man came back bowling to the winds. rookie vinay raked up 5er in the match. couldn’t careless what happened to BCCI XI.
‘Col’ should come back out of retirement and lead India with Gavaskar as Manager, Shastri as Asst. Manager and Sharad Pawar as Coach
Why not Anil Kumble? At least his place in the Test team is more secure than Laxman’s..
Admittedly anyone but Dhoni would be a stopgap captain, but of the choices present, I think Kumble would be the best option.
it will go to Dhoni and Laxman will be the V Capt
Cricket is a national wastage of time, GDP. It should be banned and India should promote Football.
Why not Anil Kumble ?
Sachin did a Sonia Gandhi..!
KUMBLE
Kumble is an obvious name, but unfortunately two things go against the man. One, he is older than Sachin and with as much shelf life as the little man, give or take a year. And two, in the time he was vice-captain, he was, like Deve Gowda, more concerned about Karnataka.
What the Indian team needs is a young cosmopolitan head, not necessarily tested, with a sufficient number of years ahead of him, and unquestioned Test match skills. There is none on the horizon. So Dhoni may get the vote by default, but if even the great Gilchrist—great keeper, fine batsman, excellent cricketing head—could have the humility to say no, will the Jharkhand boy be able to realise his own limitations? Or will ambition get the better of him?
How about Kalam? He’s got the haristyle, he’s got experience, he can inspire, and he can bore the pants out of Ponting. So what if he can’t bat? So won’t many of our superheroes on the bouncy pitches down under.
Protima Konar …you from Commies land I guess..for now shut up.
Yashica ..good choice but you may have to hold the bat for the Old Man when the likes of brett lee is bowling.
Given a chance colonel will take the mantle as a sitting captain like what Ramesh krishnan did in tennis a while ago.
Huttidare Kannada Nadal Hutta Beku ……….
Happy Deepavali maga
chennagi edhiya
deepavali nantara preethi eerali mari
Sachin was a wrong choice in the first place. You cannot have a failed leader to make a come back to that touch job in Indian Cricket after Dravid had shirked on a high note. Ganguly lost the job not because he had failed as captain but due to prolonged loss of form. Now that he has virtually cemented his place, it is surprising he was not an automatic choice. Surprises never cease in Indian Cricket. Is it all MAHA politics ?
I probably think Ganguly could well be asked to lead. This move might just be a ploy to get the choice more acceptance. The board might have had a loss of face if they had directly asked Ganguly after dropping him not too long ago. Remember Sachin declined but was not really ‘asked’ by the board. This and the timely comments of some ex players associated with the board about not burdening Dhoni, can give the board a good excuse to suggest Ganguly’s name and minimize any criticism.
Congrats Anil