MUMBAI, 10 August 2007 — Call it experimentation, a break from tradition or sheer pragmatism, the selectors have certainly pumped fresh air into the squad picked for an important international event by putting their faith entirely on youth.
The stalwarts, who have otherwise formed the boulevard of the team for over a decade have been given the go-by, as selectors named the team for the first Twenty20 World Cup, to be played in South Africa next month. The omission of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan may cause a flutter in conservative circles, as it cannot just be visualized that any Indian team of today, in either form of the game, can be without these bigwigs.
As one can see that, for the first time, the selection committee has been realistic in its approach to the point of displeasing the seniors who would have considered themselves as indispensable. Days before the selection of the squad on Tuesday, it was being mentioned in a section of the media that these players had voluntarily opted out. But their angry reaction in England the other day to these news item reveals that they did nurse a desire to be in the Twenty20 squad.
Let’s face it, of all the participating teams, India have the least experience of this the shortest version of cricket played at the international level. For the record, there has been only a solitary contest earlier this year against South Africa, which, surprisingly India won. There have been no such tournaments held in the country worth mentioning. The challenge, therefore, of picking a side was onerous to say the least.
Fortunately, there has been an appreciation of this fact it is definitely a tournament for younger men, a competition where reflexes and physical fitness are tested to the full. Led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is just 25, the squad has almost all the players around that age. Ajit Agarkar, at 30, is the oldest. The big guns who have been omitted are all around 35. Wisely enough, the selectors have made it known that high reputation cannot make up for lack of speed and agility. The recall of Virender Sehwag could not have been more timely. This format is something that is right up his sleeves. Even if he gets a 30 or a 40, he will get it in double-quick time and that indeed is the name of the game. It will not be long before the Nawab of Najafgarh makes a comeback into the one-day and Test side. The youngest member of the team is leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who is a brilliant fielder as well as a fair bat. In fact, for the first time, it can be said that the entire team is made up of those who possess high fielding standards.
On the success of this young side will depend India’s future selection policies. A start has been made with Twenty20 squad, it could well spread into other areas, first the one-dayers and then the Tests. One must remember that the stalwarts that we have talked of earlier are in the twilight zone of their careers and do not have much further to go. The present selection reflects the realization of that fact.
