Next best things

Akash Lal was the North Zone representative on the selection panel that picked Sachin Tendulkar. Lal never played for India,but was responsible for sending India’s greatest to his first tour,Pakistan 1989. He spoke to Jonathan Selvaraj.

Age shouldn’t rule out any one,even if the player is 16 or 30. Sachin was only around 16 when he was picked,but it was a unanimous choice. Why we picked Sachin was because of his tactical ability. That is the ability to play in any situation and in different conditions — not just on surfaces that suit batting. We always knew that Sachin was something special because more than talent,which we saw in many players,he also had tremendous discipline to improving himself.

One of the best decisions I made as part of the group of selectors was for the tour to New Zealand in 1990. We had decided to get a completely new-look team and we brought in 7-8 fresh faces. The most important thing for a selector then becomes to back a player. If you have picked somebody on ability,then you need to have faith in that person’s ability and yourself as well. Tom Graveney,one of England’s best players,had a poor start in his Test career but then got 170 odd in his next game against us.

Domestic cricket must still be given the highest priority. If I had to pick someone to replace the top order,I would look for correctness of play. When Sachin was picked he was technically very assured. Nowadays I am aghast to see that we are facing the same traditional problems against the ball leaving the off stump,and the rising delivery.

I personally think that Rohit Sharma has been given a rough deal by the selectors. He first got a chance in Australia and he performed really well on surfaces that were really difficult to bat on. I think the selectors have forgotten about him.

‘Rayudu is a perfect replacement for VVS’

Shivlal Yadav served as South Zone selector from 1996 to 2001,and was the man who recommended VVS Laxman to Test cricket in 1996. The former Hyderabad off-spinner spoke to Devendra Pandey.

From his early days,VVS Laxman used to bat at number three for Hyderabad and it was difficult getting him into the Indian team back in the mid 90s due to that,despite his consistent scoring. The only real vacancy was for the opening slot and picking him as an opener,we thought would risk his career. Being the South Zone selector at that point,I went and told Laxman and asked him about that option. Laxman agreed instantantly to take up the challenge. That is the kind of man he is.

Yet,it was really tough for him to cement his place in the side,and he was dropped later. But it’s massive credit to Laxman that he managed to come back as strongly as he did. Like Laxman,it is very important to give any player who is performing consistently a chance to prove himself,even if not at his natural position.

If I have to pick one young player who could replace Laxman in the near future,then I will go for our Hyderabad boy Ambati Rayudu,who is playing for Baroda these days. He resembles Laxman in a lot of ways,especially when it comes to his stroke play.

And though many will not agree with me,I believe that Ambati has great temperament,just like Laxman. He is easily the most talented batsman in the domestic circuit at the moment and everybody got a glimpse of that during the IPL. If I was a selector now,I would definitely have argued on his behalf for a place in the senior team.

I’d like to see him get a taste of being around the Indian team to start with. When his opportunity comes at Test level,I’m very confident that he will deliver. Batsmen as talented his him won’t let you down for too long.

‘Great fast bowlers aren’t born overnight’

Chandu Borde,who spoke to Devendra Pandey,was chief selector when Zaheer Khan was picked for the 2000 Champions Trophy in Nairobi.

Being a left-arm fast bowler is always a great advantage,and they always tend to add a very influential dimension to any bowling attack. They are quite difficult for a batsman to face,and I remember my battles against the likes of Garry Sobers and Alan Davidson. So naturally I was excited when I heard of this young left-arm quick coming up the ranks in domestic cricket back during the early 2000s,and wanted to catch a glimpse of Zaheer Khan.

As selector,I went out and saw Zaheer bowl on as many occasions as possible in various matches around the country. I am really happy to see him become the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack.

The selectors need to be prepared to go and see more matches. As many as they can. You can’t pick players merely by seeing the scoreboard. Taking a five-wicket haul against a weak team might boost a bowler’s reputation,but every performance of his should be treated judiciously.

As a selector,you should have an instinct about any player you pick that he will deliver the goods consistently. Talented players will generally do that for you in the long run,and if that is so then you need to back them to the hilt.

At this point,it is hard to say who will replace Zaheer. His will be really big shoes to fill. I can’t pin-point on who could be the candidate to take up Zaheer’s spot once he is done.

Looking at the future,we need to see how bowlers are performing in tough situations. We need to pick some youngsters who have been playing over the last few years,and persist with them. Pick pacers who you think will have the capability of winning you matches in the future and groom them.

Great bowlers like Zaheer aren’t born overnight. It’s important to prepare a healthy bench strength for the future. And when situations demand,let them play any form of game that you think will benefit them.

‘Pujara looked like he belonged during the South Africa tour’

Gundappa Viswanath was the chairman of selectors responsible for picking Rahul Dravid on the England tour in 1996. He spoke to Shamik Chakrabarty.

I don’t think I deserve any credit for bringing in Rahul Dravid or brining back Sourav Ganguly. Rahul went to Singapore before the England tour for an ODI series but didn’t score too many. Still everybody was very sure about his talent. The promise he showed in domestic cricket made us believe that he can serve Indian cricket for a long time.

When you pick a youngster you don’t think too much about his future or rather how far he can go. Extraordinary players grow with time as they try to learn from mistakes and make extra efforts not to repeat them. You must have the resolve to do well at the top level and both Rahul and Sourav had that resolve. Rahul is a legend of the game,Sourav too has served Indian cricket with great distinction and dignity.

As for the current lot,I watched Cheteshwar Pujara on TV during the South Africa series and thought that he was impressive. He looked like he belonged. From the remaining lot that I have seen,and I haven’t watched much domestic cricket of late,I am impressed with Rohit and Kohli.

If we search closely,there surely must be other talents as well. It’s always important to invest in class even if they don’t make an immediate impact.

‘There can only be one Virender Sehwag’

Madan Lal,who spoke to Jonathan Selvaraj,was North Zone selector for four terms between 1998 and 2001,and was on the committee that selected Virender Sehwag for both his ODI and Test debuts.

In 1999,when I was the North Zone selector,it wasn’t very hard to push for Sehwag’s inclusion in the Indian team. It is not as if the other selectors had heard his name for the first time because he had been doing very well in the domestic competitions. More than the number of runs he scored,it was his attitude that impressed everyone. So all of us were aware that he had a positive approach and a lot of confidence. And that was neededfor India at that time. Of course,Sehwag got only one run in his debut against Pakistan. But as selectors,we had no problem in backing him because we knew he was all class. Luckily he got a century in his Test debut.

Honestly,I don’t see any one like Sehwag in the next set of players that we have. But if I had to pick a few players to be part of the Indian side with an eye on the future,it would be Abhinav Mukund,Murali Vijay,Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Abhinav Mukund has got a few chances but has been able to contribute whenever he has got the chance.

I would put Virat above Rohit because he has the attitude to the game that any selector will like. Rohit has class but I am not so sure about the attitude. Despite the fact that Murali Vijay has not performed so well recently I will still stick to him.

In fact,I would back all of these players for not just one series but at least a year. There is a big difference between Indian domestic cricket and international standards so it is unfair to expect all of them to make the jump immediately. We have a number of senior batsmen in the current side who are unlikely to play beyond the next two years,so we must have faith in these youngsters.

‘Ashwin should be drafted into Test set-up right away’

ajit wadekar was the chairman of selectors when Harbhajan Singh made his debut for India in 1998. He spoke to Bharat Sundaresan.

The first time I saw Harbhajan Singh was in a domestic game at Amritsar,after hearing a lot about him from the other selectors,Madan Lal in particular. And I was really impressed with the guile he possessed and also the control over his doosra at that young age. He was still raw but had a lot of energy,and unlike now used to flight the ball a lot more back then.

Age was never really a criterion I considered as chairman of selectors,and despite him being 17,we went for Harbhajan and he has proved us right over time. In my opinion,Mumbai’s teenage left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh has the potential to replace Harbhajan in years to come.

But for now with Harbhajan struggling the way he is,the selectors should definitely go for R Ashwin.

Ashwin has shown his class and temperament with the ball every time he’s gotten a chance. I don’t agree with people who tag him as a limited-overs specialist. Ashwin possesses a very deceptive action and always looks focussed on improving himself with every outing. He never seems short of ideas,and I am sure that he will be a valuable addition to the Indian Test team. I think the selectors should draft him into the Test set-up right away.

Tried & tested

S badrinath: Is he India’s answer to Mark Ramprakash (who couldn’t make the step-up to Test cricket) or to Michael Hussey (a Test-class batsman who had to start late)? With his struggles against the short ball in the West Indies ODI series,Badri sat out all of the Tests and did not get a call-up for England.

Virat Kohli: With his combative ways at the crease in ODIs,Kohli was expected to make a smooth transition into Tests. But he struggled against the West Indies quicks,and had a highest score of only 30 in six innings. Nevertheless,Kohli is seen as a long-term prospect and will get time to prove himself.

Wriddhiman Saha: The Bengal stumper’s only Test came as a pure batsman in unforseen circumstances as both VVS Laxman and Rohit Sharma got injured on the eve of Nagpur Test against South Africa last year. It isn’t clear what the selectors want from him,from the stop-start treatment they’ve meted out so far.

Murali Vijay: Vijay has had little trouble looking the part as an opener,whenever he’s had an opportunity. But a disastrous tour of the West Indies,where he scored only 71 in six innings,saw his Test average drop from just under 40 to just over 30,and his reserve opener slot went to his state-mate Abhinav Mukund.

Rohit Sharma: Despite three half-centuries in the Caribbean ODI series t he talent is undoubted,but he’s felt the repercussions of not doing enough justice to his talent,missing out on a World Cup spot,and only getting called up for the Test squad once — only to get injured on the eve of his debut.

abhimanyu mithun: With nine wickets in four Tests so far,Mithun has hit decent areas and troubled lefties with his angle. But he could do with a little more faith from the selectors,who flew in RP Singh as Zaheer Khan’s replacement in England even though Mithun was logically next in line.

Abhinav Mukund: Mukund has shown glimpses of his domestic appetite at Dominica (62) and at Lord’s (49),but bowlers have discovered chinks in his technique,notably a weakness for getting played on.

jaidev unadkat: With only eight first class matches behind him,19-year-old Jaidev Unadkat had the unenviable task of making his Test debut as Zaheer Khan’s replacement. It was bound to end in disaster,and the left-armer ended up with figures of 0 for 101 as India crumbled to an innings defeat.

Cheteshwar Pujara: After 4000 first class runs and a 72 on debut against Australia,Pujara got his big chance on the South Africa tour,and showed his ability against Steyn and Morkel. Injury ruled him out of the following tours,but a return to full fitness should see him back in the squad.

Karthik Krishnaswamy