Nov 10, 2002 01:24 PM
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(Updated Nov 10, 2002 01:31 PM)
Today morning when I woke up I found myself on the floor. When I recalled everything I found that in dream I saw that India had won the world cup and in that excitement I had fallen from seat. I prayed to god that ''Hume Itna Bhi Haseen Khawb Mat Dikho Ke Bardaast Ke Bahar Ho Jaaye'' (Don't show me such a pleasant dream that I can't bear it).
What are the reasons behind our continuous win (except recent one's, which took place due to captain's enviousness)? Did the team spirit and killer instinct came overnight? The reason behind this are many.
After a great deal of effort we have been able to get rid of Azharuddin, Venkatesh Prasad, Nayan Mongia, etc., influential players such as Samir Dighe, Deep Dasgupta, S. Ramesh, etc. who are so heavy that increases the weight of team unnecessarily which made the team Lion on paper but not on field. Thanks to our selectors who have at present stopped playing musical chair and gave a chance to genuine players. John Wright as a coach is doing a splendid job.
In Saurav Ganguly one wouldn't be able to find Clive's personality or Steve's smart moves and cool mind but surely he has aggressiveness (and Azhar's enviousness ) which earlier was found only in Kapil Dev. Goodie Goodie Indian team got its Killer Instinct under his captaincy. Saurav without any fear can fight for everything which has given the team required self confidence, good rapport between team members and has affected star players performance. By defeating weak team Azhar is called a successful captain and so is the case with Saurav, one can only be called a successful captain when he defeats Pakistan, South Africa and Australia in their country in a series. Under the pressure of captaincy his batting has affected and his running between the wickets is still pathetic, his enviousness has affected one-day batting of Sachin and Rahul, he has always played with their batting order.
Another headache is of wicket keeper. Parthiv Patel is no doubt a good wicket keeper but still has to learn a lot. On the other hand Rahul is not a genuine wicket keeper. No other wicket keeper can be sighted even at the horizon.
Run Machine Sachin and his non-stop form now seems to be having breaks and the only reason visible at present is that of Saurav's playing with his batting order. He is more successful batsman as an opener than coming as one-down or two-down. If Sachin and Virendra opens for India then both of them can really create wonders because both of them have terrific strike rate. Saurav's enviousness is affecting Sachin's bowling too.
Laxman is a genuine test player but not a one-day player, his records too speak of the same fact; in one-day neither his average is good nor his strike-rate. Dinesh Mongia lacks consistency. Rahul Dravid, always fits everywhere.
The much spoken place of all rounder should be handed over to Robin Singh. Yes my dear friends only Robin is fit for this place. He is Sankat-mochan Hanuman for our team; whether need has arised for batting, fielding or bowling he always excels on all these fronts. He has been side-lined because of his age but even today he is more fit the anyone else in the team. Javagal Srinath who wants to retire (who is totally non-fit for the world cup) is being included in team but Robin who wants to be active and is an active coach of under 19 team, who is highly fit isn't included. What an irony?!
As like Robin there is one other one-day specialist and he is our very own ''BAAPU'' - Ajay Jadeja. Wait, don't have a dislike feeling. Indian Cricket Board is a fool who have accepted match fixing allegations publicly. Harschelle Gibbs (South Africa), Mark Waugh & Shane Warne (Australia) too were alleged but all of them are still playing for their country. Wasn't Kapil alleged for match fixing and still he is being treated as a king; same is the case with Ajay, allegations against him aren't proved. The best thing about Ajay is that he has cricketing brain without being aggressive still he is aggressive, a man with Steve's cool mind; recall the world cup match against Pakistan without getting excited he bashed Pakistan (who had nonsense behaviour); he is a person who is willing to keep the environment of team healthy; under his captaincy India has won all matches. Jadeja understands cricket and has required cleverness.
Rest, we have with us players with great killer instinct : Sehwag, Kaif, Yuvraj, Bhaji and Zaheer, who always fights without giving up whatever the conditions may prevail.
INDIAN CRICKET TEAM for world cup :
Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar (opening)
After that,
Saurav Ganguly (captain)
Rahul Dravid (vice-captain and wicket keeper)
Yuvraj Singh
Mohammed Kaif
Robin Singh
Harbhajan Singh
Ajit Agarkar
Anil Kumble
Zaheer Khan
Rest of the team members: Ajay Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath and Sanjay Bangar
''Mein kab se wait kar raha hu, aap log kab laaoge, kab laaoge, ...................'' - Shahrukh Khan
