The Sri-Can't Factor and some Corrections!

Wednesday, 10 February 2010


Krishnamachari Srikkanth was known and admired for his fearless stroke-play and his successful opening partnership with 'Sunny' Gavaskar. Papa Gavaskar had an immensely lesser talented 'Son'. Poor 'Cheeka' too is facing a similar problem. His 'Baby' Anirudha Srikanth just can't fit in to Papa's big boots.

Sunny's Sonny at least managed to play a few ODIs for India as an 'All-rounder' during the days of recession. So only way Papa Srikkanth can fulfill his dream of watching his boy play for India is by pushing him hard; as hard as possible. So this chap gets to play for Zonal team in spite of South Zone team having at least a dozen better equipped players. This is what I meant by the Sri-Can't Factor! Till now, it has been Sri-Can! Hope Papa will not succeed in pushing his Boy all the way into Indian Team. India might then lose to Bangladesh, Bermuda and even Antarctica!

There was a major blunder in my earlier post, 'The Nagpur Disaster and the Kolkotta Prayer". It was a misconception that Wridhiman Saha was selected for the Nagpur squad as a 'Reservation Candidate' to placate the East-Lobby. This was not true. He was accommodated just to facilitate Dinesh Karthik's inclusion in the South Zone team in the Duleep Trophy Final versus West Zone.

Cheeka wanted a Captain pliable to his whims and one who will play Anirudha in the team, even if it meant dropping some really good player. Karthik has got his reward and he is back in the team for the Kolkotta Test. Ironically, it is Kolkotta's own Saha who gets the boot! And that too after a pretty good show in the India second innings at Nagpur.

With Abhimanyu Mithun, Murali Vijay and Badrinath missing out, the Selectors, lead by Srikkanth thought it would be wise to have Karthik in SZ team. Anyway they expected VVS to recover in time. If he didn't recover, they had another favorite Rohit 'My Name is Sharma' in the squad. With Skipper Dhoni donning the keepr's gloves as well, there was no place for Karthik in the playing 11. So poor Saha was brought in. This shocked not only the Cricket crazy people of India but even Saha himself was stunned!

Now, the disaster is over. Finally Dhoni has lost his first test as Captain. Bhajji is rightly getting brickbats. Srisanth is back and Ishant Sharma retains his place. He will play till eternity in spite of non-performance. Poor Saha has got the 'Axe Effect'.

But what is sad is the sacking of Abhimanyu Mithun. What was the criterion for dropping him? What makes the Selectors to repose so much faith in Ishant? Only time will answer these questions. If, he was allowed to play the Duleep Trophy final like Karthik; South would have lifted the Trophy, perhaps!

So now, all that had to go wrong has done so. India have lost a test after a long time. The situation is so bad; it can't get any worse! I have a strong feeling... Team India will bounce back in style at Kolkotta!

Hope I will be proved right for the sake of Cricket and for the sake of India! For as an Indian, I believe in only one religion; Cricket! And India is the Temple of Cricket!!! So now let's all hope 'Our Gods' will deliver when it matters!

And then... It should be... All izz Well !