MUMBAI: Just when the great debate in Indian cricket — whether the new emerging players should be given preference over those past their prime — had appeared to go overwhelmingly in favor of youngsters, comes a rather disturbing development that may raise the whole question of discipline all over again.
The performances, especially in the shorter version of the game, right from the Twenty20 World Cup, the one-day series in Australia and the recent ODI triumph in Sri Lanka had gone a long way in the reiteration of the belief “the younger, the better.” The disastrous show of the Test teams during the same period, particularly the torment that senior players went through over the wiles of mystery spinner Ajanrtha Mendis in Sri Lanka, had made out a case for the rejuvenation of the Test side as well.
The failure of the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman to bring into play all their experience to tame a young spinner, playing his first Test series, and Anil Kumble’s lack of success both as a bowler and captain, further strengthened the view that these masters of the game can henceforth contribute very little. Names and fame do not matter when it comes to achieving success.
The new set of selectors, which will come in later this month, might surely be influenced by this reality. But something that happened in recent times may make them somewhat wary.
It so happened that some members of Dhoni’s young brigade showed youthful exuberance off the field as well. It had started in Karachi, when a few of them partied until the small hours of the morning when the final of the Asia Cup was to be played.
A few eyebrows were thus raised over India’s defeat to Sri Lanka in the final. The scene again was Colombo. Not much was said when the Indian team celebrated their first ever ODI-series triumph in Sri Lanka in 25 years.
The officials allowed them to let their hair down at a party where both the music and food were Indian. But a few crossed the time limit and carried on well past midnight.
Skipper Dhoni who has the knack of getting the best out of his players, does not believe in imposing restrictions. He believes that his players know what is good for them. He was quite clearly upset with India’s poor show in the fifth and last ODI, after India had won the series.
Most of the players, according to team officials, are well-behaved and disciplined.
They, however, do not hesitate to mention the name of Yuvraj Singh, as the one who seems to be influencing a couple of young players into spending long hours in the disco. They are worried that this may become more frequent.
It is here that they mention the presence of someone like Sachin Tendulkar in the team. He too loves good food and good music but sternly believes that there is proper time for such things. He has a tempering effect on the young players who always look up to him.
That is the main reason that of all the senior players, Dhoni wants to have Tendulkar in his side. Perhaps, by now, those who have been going wayward, will have learned how valuable, nay priceless, is their place in the team and would not like to lose it.
