The outcome would not have been possible if the senior players didnt excuse themselves from the tournament. Well done Dravid, Tendul, Ganguly - please note this is not a sarcastic comment - i really mean it.
RE:Hats off to seniors
by Sarath Chandra on Sep 25, 2007 08:45 PM Permalink
Yes, India may have been better team (than the current 20/20 winning team) with one or two of them. But all three of them in the team makes the fielding so weak that even good bowling is not rewarded. I am not saying all 3 are bad fielders. Sachin and Dravid are quite safe and decent, and they needn't be hidden in the field. However, they would need some livewires like Yuvraj, Raina, Uthappa etc to cover the gaps more effectively.
The problem is removing any one of them is provoking extreme reactions from their respective fans. Dravid can be dropped without provoking extreme reactions, but frankly, I think, he is the most convincing batsman (irrespective of recent performances) and fielder of the 3 at this stage.
RE:Hats off to seniors
by Sunil Yande on Sep 25, 2007 08:58 PM Permalink
I agree. If the three were available, at least two of them would have played in each game. Imagine pressure on Dhoni in ordering them around, and the pressure on the youngsters playing with them, and the pressure on the seniors of the baggage they carry, to perform each time. The Twenty20 team was free of all these pressures; and Dhoni could harness that advantage and ably guide the team to great levels. All three of them are going to be available for the One-day series with Australia, so also the added baggage of expectations on Dhoni. It would be interesting to see how this all plays out... If we have to build a team, I would keep the stalwarts out, let the young team handle it and get one of them in (most likely Tendulkar) only in case of dire circumstances. I would use the three stalwarts only in test matches, from here on.
RE:Hats off to seniors
by Sarath Chandra on Sep 25, 2007 09:15 PM Permalink
Well, Sunil. I am against the basic philosophy of juniors feeling pressure due to the presence of seniors, and that used a reason to remove them. This is an international sports team and people have to win and lose places based on performances and potential, not on age. I don't think it is justified to drop players despite them being the best performers. In my opinion, the juniors have to outperform the seniors to win their places.
Not liking somebody's presence in the team or feeling pressure for the same reason isn't a good thing especially in a team sport you have to work together irrespective of your differences. Shane Warne had differences with both Gilchrist and Steve Waugh. But they worked around that for the team, while still retaining their enmity. I think we also should learn to do that. Have differences, but team India first.
Dhoni's needs would count first, when selecting the team. If he wants a middle order mainstay, Dravid's the man, if he has opening problems, Tedulkar's the man. However, I think both will play for atleast the next months after which one of them will drop out, by retirement or axing based on performance. Ganguly might find it difficult to survive the home season in one-dayers.
RE:Hats off to seniors
by biswa pal on Sep 25, 2007 09:34 PM Permalink
dont get carried away.aussies are here.lets see who performs,the big three or the younger brigade.
RE:Hats off to seniors
by Baskar Guha on Sep 25, 2007 09:30 PM Permalink
It is a sarcastic remark despite your empty disclaimer. Instead of dividing Indian cricket like India divides its society - by age, by caste, by creed -- it would be better to just choose the best 11 for the job depending on the format of the game regardless of how many "seniors" and how many "juniors" it has.
RE:RE:RE:Hats off to seniors
by Tamil Indian on Sep 25, 2007 10:29 PM Permalink
See even with the disclaimer it is construed as sarcastic - if you have read any of my comments on rediff board they are anything but divisive... it is a recorded fact (many experts have said including the captain Dhoni) that the absence of superstars was one reason India did well. But the selectors would not have been able to do that unless the seniors opted themselves out that is what I meant.
