da betcris： © CricInfo Gautam Gambhir could well ask what more he has to do to get intothe Indian team
da spicy bet： Partab Ramchand18-Feb-2002
© CricInfoGautam Gambhir could well ask what more he has to do to get intothe Indian team. If scoring a double century in a tour match onthe eve of the first Test is no guarantee for a berth in theside, there is little else, it would seem, that a young promisingaspirant for the India could do to squeeze into the nationalsquad. One must also not forget that the 20-year-old Delhibatsman had got a double hundred against Railways in the RanjiTrophy pre-quarterfinal last month. Is this, in any way, areflection of the strength of the Indian batting line-up?In a way, it could be a sign. One recalls how in the 80s aconsistent run-getter like KP Bhaskar just could not get a lookin since the Indian middle-order was so packed with classyplayers. But then Gambhir is an opening batsman and that is whyhis omission deserves a closer look. Gambhir is very promisingwith a good future but where is the place for him in the team,"Chandu Borde is quoted to have said. The chairman of theselection committee has a point, though not an entirelysatisfying one.With the middle-order having a clear `no vacancy’ sign, any newbatsman can get in only at the top, where there is more thanelbow room for an opening partner for Shiv Sundar Das. ButGambhir is an opening batsman, so why is it so difficult for thetalented left-hander to get in after such a splendid record? Thisis where the compromise theory comes in.With the Indian think-tank persisting with the policy of playingseven batsmen (including the wicketkeeper) and four bowlers, DeepDasgupta takes the place of Das’ partner. With the middle-orderbeing manned by Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Sehwag,where is the place for another batsman?There are only four remaining places and these have to beoccupied by the bowlers in the absence of an all-rounder. Indeed,it is this absence of an all-rounder that has led to theselectors adopting the policy of six batsmen, a wicketkeeper andfour bowlers. Ideally, five bowlers would give the team a betterchance of winning. But that would mean playing only five batsmenand the Indian think-tank obviously does not aim to take therisk. This kind of safe policy is probably warranted againstAustralia and South Africa but against Zimbabwe a more aggressiveoutlook is called for.
© CricInfoUnfortunately, Indian selectors have generally been conservativeand cautious in their thinking; the bold, innovative approach hasbeen the exception rather than the rule. Other than thiscompromise policy that has led to Gambhir’s exclusion, there isnot much in the team to merit comment. The return of Zaheer Khanwas always on the cards after his fiery bowling of late. Afterlooking a certainty in the side for much of the past year or so,he was dropped for the recent Test series against Englandfollowing an indifferent tour of South Africa.Indeed, the 23-year-old left arm paceman was struggling with bothform and fitness. He was in the squad for the six-match one-dayseries against England, but did not play in any of the matches.Happily, this bleak period seems to be behind him and at themoment, he does seem to be the ideal partner for Javagal Srinath.The wicketkeeper’s slot was clearly a toss up between Dasguptaand Ajay Ratra. As a wicketkeeper, there is little doubt that thelatter is the better prospect but the Bengal stumper gets a berthbecause of his better batting, a department in which he shoneduring the Test series against England. After all, Borde himselfhas admitted that while Ratra was probably the betterwicketkeeper, Dasgupta was selected for balancing purposes.Tinu Yohannan did enough against England to warrant a place inthe squad as reserve medium-pacer. It is unlikely he will play atNagpur, a venue that does not encourage the playing of three seambowlers. Joining him on the sidelines should be Sanjay Bangar andSarandeep Singh. The remaining players, batsmen and bowlers,picked themselves.There really could not have been much for the selectors to thinkabout. Sure, some others did figure in the discussions asadmitted by the chairman but one suspects not for long. Thecomposition of the Indian team these days is quite water tightand it would take an extraordinary feat or an extended good runwith the bat or ball to get a look in. If you don’t subscribe tothis view, just ask Gautam Gambhir.
