It is hard to believe that the team that fought so hard and gallantly to square the Test series in Sri Lanka, and retain the No. 1 Test team ranking, is the same team that caved-in meekly upon wining the toss in yesterday’s ODI. In Dambulla. Worryingly, for India, this was not a one-off. Even in this very tournament they were bundled out for 80 odd by New Zealand just a couple of games ago. In fact India’s ODI form has been pretty atrocious for the past year or so. What seems to be the problem is not too much cricket and burn-out, as many of the players in the team are quite fresh, with not too much match time under their belts. The problem seems to be a lack of desire, and a jaded complacency among those in the team.
And why would they not be complacent? They see the hapless Rohit Sharma, who match after match has failed miserably with the bat, keeping his spot in the line-up, without nary a peep from the Captain. So where is the incentive to perform or perish?
The most damning statistic even besides Rohit’s anemic ODI average and sluggish ODI strike rate is the fact that he has earned just one “man of the match” award in nearly 60 ODIs he has played so far. This is a record that is so poor, that it begs the question, of why is he still in the team?
It is not a lack of talented aspirants which is keeping Sharma’s spot secure. Cheteshwar Pujara, the compact Gujarat batsman, had a monster tour of England leading the A team, against both England A and West Indies A in unfamiliar conditions. Others did well in domestic cricket or the IPL, and are worthy of a chance at the international level.
One may argue that showing faith in youngsters is a good thing, and it breeds loyalty to the team and the captain. However, no captain can afford a passenger in the team, especially when the team is not winning. It makes all the other players question why should they play their hearts out, when a player, who keeps failing is seen as almost untouchable.
It is almost as if the true men in the Indian team have left and now in charge are a bunch of spoilt kids, who have had things come to them way too easy, and who are already showing signs of being fat and happy, as evidenced by the mini paunch seen among several of the junior members of the Indian team. This state of affairs bodes very poorly for the fast approaching 2011 World Cup, which at least one sprightly near 40 year old is dying to win, showing the kind of enthusiasm and work ethic that many of the current 20 somethings have no clue about.
Bookmark or share this story with:
| 23 Aug, 2010 00:18 | Report |
|
Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged) Unregistered User |
| 23 Aug, 2010 01:53 | Report |
|
JayJ (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 834 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 03:41 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1013 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 04:41 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 06:25 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 06:29 | Report |
|
JayJ (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 834 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 06:31 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 06:33 | Report |
|
JayJ (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 834 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 15:23 | Report |
|
Shikari Shambu (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1104 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 17:59 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 23 Aug, 2010 18:17 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
) as Rohit since his avg in "nearly 60 matches" is even lower than Rohit and he doesn't even have a single 100 even after opening on many occasions...and playing against Zim too.. But we might see Rohit getting the axe in next game.. He was yet again shuffled in the batting order and was sent 1 down..
.. We need bigger contributions from experienced players like Sehwag, UV and Dhoni.. who have won many MOMs..| 23 Aug, 2010 19:30 | Report |
|
Shikari Shambu (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1104 |
Quote:Birbal
Nobody said it was ONLY because of Rohit...
Actually in this match 4 decisions by umpires were Dodgy...
Including DK's, Yuvraj's and Raina's... but then India refused to use UDRS... so they have themselves to blame mostly...
| 24 Aug, 2010 06:20 | Report |
|
JayJ (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 834 |
| 24 Aug, 2010 09:12 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 24 Aug, 2010 17:42 | Report |
|
audioman (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1872 |
| 24 Aug, 2010 18:33 | Report |
|
Martian (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: Jan, 2010 Location: Posts: 540 |
| 25 Aug, 2010 04:54 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 25 Aug, 2010 11:21 | Report |
|
Shikari Shambu (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1104 |
| 25 Aug, 2010 13:30 | Report |
|
Max (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8547 |
| 25 Aug, 2010 14:32 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 25 Aug, 2010 19:11 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
Quote:Max
^ You are right. Karthik and Kohli suck just as bad as Rohit, and they too should be dropped. The A team has some talented batsmen and they need to be given chances immediately, keeping the World Cup in mind.
| 25 Aug, 2010 23:51 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 02:49 | Report |
|
JayJ (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 834 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 19:21 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 19:30 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 21:34 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 22:15 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1013 |
| 26 Aug, 2010 23:58 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 00:07 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 17:56 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 18:47 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 19:47 | Report |
|
audioman (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1872 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 20:48 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 27 Aug, 2010 22:14 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
Quote:Birbal
Would be good to see if Dhoni can open a la Ganguly...and take on the responsiblity himself...

| 28 Aug, 2010 00:40 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 28 Aug, 2010 01:19 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 28 Aug, 2010 02:47 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 1013 |
| 28 Aug, 2010 04:37 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 28 Aug, 2010 05:55 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |
| 30 Aug, 2010 21:28 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 4123 |
| 31 Aug, 2010 19:01 | Report |
|
Max (IP Logged) Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8547 |
| 3 Sep, 2010 06:31 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 11766 |
| 3 Sep, 2010 08:46 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 3496 |
| 3 Sep, 2010 15:01 | Report |
|
Registered User |
Date Joined: May, 2007 Location: Posts: 8079 |