'Dravid does not add value to the ODI team'
Posted on Oct 28, 2007 at 18:11 | Updated Oct 28, 2007 at 20:30
100 Comments
New Delhi: On Saturday when the selectors announced the squad for the first two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan, former skipper Rahul Dravid's name was missing from the list.
So on whose suggestion was Dravid dropped? Was it Chairman of the Selection Committee Dilip Vengsarkar who suggested that Dravid be dropped from the team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan?
Indian cricket is festered with instances of great players being stranded by selection muddles. Perhaps the same happened to Dravid when he was left out of the ODI team.
But what one cannot comprehend is why Indian cricket, even after so many inglorious instances, cannot make any transition process just a bit smooth and honourable.
And the common euphemism of Indian cricket selection is back. Just two seasons ago, Sourav Ganguly was 'rested' after the Challenger Series and now the script has been repeated with Dravid being the casualty this time.
"We could pick only 15 (players). He (Dravid) is a fine player and this is only for the first two ODIs and he can come back," Vengsarkar said while justified the decision to drop Dravid.
CNN-IBN has learnt that the selection meeting in Ahmedabad started off with a selector suggesting that Ganguly should be dropped to which Vengsarkar retorted saying that it had to be Dravid among the 'Big Three' who could be dumped.
CNN-IBN has also learnt that Vengsarkar said, "Dravid is a one-dimensional player and does not add value to the ODI team."
It is learnt that with three of the five selectors standing by Vengsarkar, it didn't take much time to take a decision.
"We discussed about it and decided to give him a break for a while. He is a great player and will soon come back in the team," Vengsarkar said.
Even a person having little knowledge of Indian cricket will understand Vengsarkar didn't really believe what he said.
At the same time, one must not forget that the selectors have a tough job trying to find the correct mix of youth and experience.
The success in the Twenty20 has surely ushered in a shift in perspective in Indian cricket.
But surely Dravid deserved better.
(With inputs from Roma Khanna and Nishant Arora )
| Ads by Google |
Total Comments: 100
Read All Comments | Post Comment
Posted By Brishty
How the hell can vengsarkar say that? Does he know anything about oneday cricket? Rahul Dravid is one of the
Read Comment
Posted By Harish
I do agree that Dravid has not perform as expected of him in recent past. But Vengy\"s comment on his
Read Comment
Posted By nagasamy sundaram
class is permanent - you have seen him scoring double hundred today in the Ranji match - he has to
Read Comment
Posted By Jay
BRING BACK DRAVID......
Read Comment
Posted By Samir
This is crazy. Dravid not adding value. Mr Vengserkar, if you do not want to select a person that\''s fine...but
Read Comment