BCCI's missed tricks

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men have seen off a struggling New Zealand side in the two match test series, but not without a few anxious moments. The skipper and his prospective future successor, Virat Kohli put together a fighting partnership after India lost five wickets on the fourth day of the Bengaluru test where the conditions seemed ideal for the Kiwi bowlers. The duo put on 96 runs for the 5^th wicket and took the team through to a 2-0 win in the test series.

Despite that effort, this test series never looked like it could stretch the home side and many believed that a win in this tournament would not mean the end of the problems that they faced in England and Australia. At some level, the selectors seem to have missed the trick.

Two abysmal overseas performances have been quickly followed up by two marquee retirements and yet the selection patterns didn’t show too much of forward planning. In their return to Test match cricket, one expected some harsh decisions from the selectors, a few new combinations to be tried but none came through in the two tests against New Zealand. The squad that was put forward by the selection panel seemed like a half-hearted effort, a lackadaisical and a defensive approach to a team that is supposedly in ‘transition.’

Given the kind of form that the Kiwis have been in, in the recent past, the best foot forward for the panel would’ve been to name a couple of more youngsters in the squad and probably try a few new combinations. Ajinkya Rahane, for instance, was named in the test squad after a good showing the domestic circuit but failed to make it to the playing eleven, while Suresh Raina who was dropped after a poor tour of England came straight back into the side. Replays of his dismissal in all the three innings he played have a nullifying effect on his first innings half century in the second test. His dismissal in the second innings of the Bengaluru test would have even made the selection panel cringe.

To add to BCCI’s woes, VVS Laxman announced retirement right before the start of the Test series and decided to quit with immediate effect. The selection panel had another chance to put their foot forward and try out a youngster in his place, in their search for a long-term replacement for VVS. But, they panicked and went for Subramaniam Badrinath instead. Badri has an illustrious domestic record, but to bring in a 31-year old as a cover for VVS only sounds like a stop gap solution and a move that clearly lacks ambition.

While the team seems to have found a very sound replacement for Rahul Dravid in Cheteshwar Pujara, there is no plan chalked out for a smoother transition of the team as a whole . At the top of the batting order, both Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have struggled in the longest format of the game and the Board needs to be prepared to throw in a youngster to replace either. While Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli seem like the perfect choice at number three and number five respectively, the rest of the order still needs back up. Who will be Sachin Tendulkar’s replacement at number four? As much as the country wants him to play on forever, there will come a time when the little master will have to call it quits. If age has any role to play in such decisions, don’t be surprised to see it coming very soon. What is the solution for Virender Sehwag’s impatience in a test match? How long will it continue being branded as ‘this-is-how-he-plays’? Can he be shifted down the order and given an Adam Gilchrist-like role at number 7? Does Gambhir deserve a little more time before being axed? The team’s bowling department too needs to be restructured. Zaheer Khan is on the wrong side 30 and it would be cruel to expect him to go on forever, spearheading the attack. So who takes over and when? The team has found two young genuine fast bowlers in Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, what is the plan for them?

With every flawed selection by the board, these questions will only increase in number. Come October, BCCI will have a new selection committee. Krishnamachari Srikkanth & Co. would’ve completed their four year tenure as the selection committee with former India all-rounder Roger Binny expected to replace Chika. It would be great if Binny manages to spot these issues and addresses them as soon as possible for the home series against Australia and England. The new selection panel under Binny, will have enough time to weigh their options and make a good move or two in a hope to build a side that can erase the memories of their previous overseas tournament, when they travel to South Africa in 2013.