Monday, August 07, 2006

Half-fit Sachin just doesn’t fit in Indian Team



Agreed that Sachin Tendulkar is a champion. But If Tendulkar is not 100 per cent fit, he has no place in the Indian cricket team.

Remember the outcry for dropping a plump Ronaldo during Brazil’s World Cup campaign? Carlos Alberta Peirrera stood by Ronaldo’s glowing career record, but the damage was done.

The team failed to perform as a unit and the gifted Ronaldhino was a shadow of his impeccable self, juggling and jostling too much only to lose possession too many times.

May be Ronaldhino’s conscience was torn between performing his duties to his national side and having to check his flowing skills, purportedly for to play second fiddle to Ronaldo. Brazil lost the world cup just because they had to massage the inflated ego of a former superstar.

If Sachin Tendulkar can’t throw from the deep, he would have to stick to the circle.

Now that is a tricky situation. One it compromises the captain’s options on the field.

Bowling Sachin with a half-baked throwing arm would be a dangerous proposition if the opposition is in full flow or if India is bowling second.

So Sachin’s utility value boils down to a batsman. Now, if he can’t unleash a flurry of shorts due to his injury, then it would mean he would not be playing his natural game.

While playing a controlled game, Sachin is not the best of performers. It is not his cup of tea. For that, we have the ever reliable Raul Dravid.

And remember Sachin was upset when Rahul Dravid declared the innings when he was nearing his double ton. So personal records matter for this champion.

Now, if Sachin were to slow down after his eighties or 40s, Rahul Dravid can’t have the option of declaring because it is a one day game.

Now, do we wan’t a burden of mind games to be forced on a World Cup bound skipper and team just to include a half-fit champion. The answer should be no.

Our hero has let us down by announcing himself available for selection.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Even a half-fit sachin is good enough to secure a place in the INDIAN odi team. Come on, we are not talking about Australia here. If a fully-fit Venu Gopal Rao (though he is not in the team now) could secure a place in Indian ODI team, and play almost 10 matches, even UB Prem could eye a spot in the Indian team.

Sachin may not be a great player anymore and he succumbs big time under pressure situations in Tests. Not ODIs dude. He is still a capable guy (again for Indian team) for one-dayers.

Dravid may be a MUCH MUCH better player than Sachin in Tests. Agreed. But if the captain wants to win world cup in West Indies next year, Sachin should click bigtime.

A half-fit Sachin spoiled Dravid's party in the recent ODI series in West Indies, eh?