Dravid's decision to retire and the Selection Committee

Dravid’s selection, if anything, has exposed the selectors’ lack of faith in the youngsters’ ability to thrive in conditions that assist swing and bounce

Two years later, well past his 38^th birthday, after getting dropped ruthlessly from the ODI side, Rahul Dravid has figured in the fifteen member squad for the first time. The one starkly distinguishing feature of this team is that they are the ‘world champions’, the team that is supposed to possess the craft to prevail in any part of the world against any bowling attack, for that is what the two words stand for, in short. But whether they do, is a question that seeks a collective answer, as Rahul Dravid will not be a part of the solution anymore, at least in the shorter format, as he has announced his retirement from the shorter format.

Incidentally, the last time he was picked was when the team struggled to cope with swing and bounce in the T20 World Cup 2009, held in England and in place of the same Yuvraj Singh, whose form and fitness seemed to have deserted him for a while.

“It’s nice to be back, I am very happy. I am looking forward to the Sri Lanka tri-series and the Champions Trophy in South Africa, to giving it my best. It will be nice to catch up with the boys once again,” Dravid said.

He was the second highest run-scorer with figures: 14, 47, 39, 76 and 4 in the five innings (six games) that he played. Notably, he was asked to open in the Compaq Cup final against Sri Lanka that India managed to win, when made a steady 39. In the Champions trophy though, after a collective failure, India were shown the door in the very first round.

Again the selection committee smelled the prospects of a flat deck in the home series against Australia and for a moment, Dravid’s legs seemed to have outgrown his own shoes. He was again asked to make way for the youngsters.

India have come a long way since then. Not long before, did India jubilantly pose with the World Cup and were said to possess youth and experience in the right blend.

Meanwhile, Dravid conjured up fighting hundreds in tracks smattered with uncertainty of swing and bounce in the West Indies and England when the rest of the team were bundled out cheaply, not to forget the quality of bowling attack he confronted with.

Again came a tough series against England and again the question has surreptitiously crept into every conversation: are the youngsters good enough to play in any part of the world?

After being posed with such embarrassing questions, the selection committee once again has decided to turn towards Dravid once again. But Dravid feels otherwise and has decided to call it quits to the shorter format.

“I am committed, as always to give my best to India in this one-day series and obviously the Test series that follows. At the end of this one-day series, I would like to announce my retirement from one-day and Twenty20 cricket and concentrate only on Test cricket, “ he said yesterday.

The need of the hour is a committee that is more proactive than reactive. Dravid’s selection, if anything, has exposed the selectors’ lack of faith in the youngsters’ ability to thrive in conditions that assist swing and bounce. It is also a vestige of a mercurial selection committee that looks to paper the cracks that threaten to develop further and that seeks temporary solutions for questions that need long-term answers. Dravid’s decision, however, would force them into finding the long-term answers.