Cracking the future code

It’s time to look to the post-World Cup India cricket team when Dravid, Tendulkar and even Sehwag, will not be around; but the game’s custodians are busy counting bucks

Ashish Shukla Delhi

Indian cricket team is in transition. It is plain to see Sachin Tendulkar, after 18 long years, is unlikely to be around for long. Rahul Dravid, for all his reserves of energy, will be lucky to make it to 2011 World Cup. Anil Kumble? Fat chance and so it appears, given the present form, with Virender Sehwag. We would remain tormented whether to qualify Yuvraj Singh as a cricketer who has finally fulfilled his promise, or ask yet again if his glitter is for real. Mohammad Kaif will remain a journeyman who would miss more matches than he plays.

Devoid of these stars, we would be looking more and more for our Suresh Rainas and Munaf Patels to come good. We would be hoping Greg Chappell, for a change, would be as good as his word and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, after all, will be the next superstar. Will Sreesanth, VRV Singh and RP Singh be the fast bowlers who would lead our attack in the next decade? Don’t tell me you are squirming in discomfort in your seat at the thought. Otherwise, there would be another round of experiments.

If Indian cricket at present appears to be a House of Horrors, so it is. For all those riches and adulations of millions, we are being short-changed in the game we love. We surely would have a new coach in the post-World Cup era. The worry is we might also be required to be absolutely clear about the next leader, who would take the mantle from Rahul Dravid. At present there are no easy choices.

The role of the captain in cricket can not be over-emphasised. Clive Lloyd was a father figure who united the disparate identities in the Caribbean; Imran Khan led by the sheer aura of his performance and regal demeanour. Arjuna Ranatunga was the shining beacon for a nation trying to establish its international roots—he was charismatic in performance and who raised a whole breed of Vaas’ and Muralis at his own home in Colombo. It was cricket’s “poultry farm”, if you must. Mike Brearley knew how to inspire his men and Allan Border made Australia rediscover its roots of greatness. Even our ‘Tiger Pataudi’ is spoken about with awe by the usually irreverent Bishan Singh Bedi.

All these are history men, but possibly for Mike Brearley, who had one essential quality in them: they commanded a regular place in their sides. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the present Indian team. Sachin Tendulkar will and should not be the captain again. He relinquished captaincy a long time ago and going back to him now would be a retrogressive step. Sehwag, even in his most punishing form, doesn’t have the body language of a leader. He appears too laid back and casual when India would need a proactive leader in years to come; someone like Ajay Jadeja with skills. Yuvraj Singh has fallen by wayside: his talent is not in question, but his temperament is. That the next name we get hinged on is Dhoni’s, which doesn’t say much about the options Indians have about their next leader.

Dravid would thus have to be persisted with as captain in the post-World Cup 2007 era. Let’s hope that he would retain his brilliance, for, otherwise, the picture is too gloomy. India’s two tours next year would be a mighty challenge: they have a visit to England in the slot and they round up the calendar with a trip to Australia. There are no easy games and only the best would survive.