Sunday, September 16, 2007

WHO SHOULD SUCCEED DRAVID?

'Sources' say BCCI has approached Sachin Tendulkar to take over the mantle of captaincy. If he accepts, it will be his third stint as captain. A stop-gap arrangement with the younger lot either not ready like Yuvraj and Dhoni or in the doldrums like Sehwag and Kaif.

But is Tendulkar the right stop-gap choice? Somebody who was a disaster in his last two stints as captain and walked away because he found himself unequal to the pressure. And the spectre of injury is a clear and present threat unless he plays only selectively. But can a full-fledged captain cut down on his ODI appearances? The only way to get around it - make Tendulkar test captain and Dhoni the ODI/Twenty20 captain.

If BCCI is looking for someone who can handle both ends the first choice should be Sourav Ganguly. At least he has the combative nous and was a successful captain. His batting, which was in shambles towards the end of his earlier captaincy, has regained its sparkle. Full marks for battling back from nowhere, after everyone (expect Bengalis) had written him off.

As Ganguly may not be palatable to the powers-that-be, why not the last of the so-called Fab Four - VVS Laxman for tests (with Dhoni for ODIs). He's got a raw deal over the years, from losing out on the 2003 World Cup to being stuck at number six in the test batting line-up. A man who regularly is being projected as one match away from being dropped. Pity somebody who was vice-captain on last year's South Africa tour doesn't figure in any opinion poll.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

agree partially. The problem with having sachin as captain in tests alone - how easy will it be for him to submit to dhoni in ODIs? If he had retired from ODIs, it would be a different picture.

VVS i think would be a good choice for tests - he isn't in the ODI team. the arrangement would be somewhat like ponting and waugh.

But i don't agree sourav ganguly should be handed captaincy once again. his batting may fall away sharply, who knows?