After being next big thing, Naidu adjusts to sidelines

Why did this happen? ‘‘I didn’t keep too well at the challengers. My batting was fine, but I missed a couple of chances…tough ones, but they were chances,’’ Naidu told The Indian Express on the sidelines of the Delhi v Karnataka Ranji match here today.

While Naidu was obviously out of his depth at the senior level at the time, his fall from grace is actually because of a long-standing problem with Indian cricket. As a now out-of-favour former Indian wicketkeeper told this paper recently, the problem is that wicketkeepers are called for the senior camps on the basis of their batting. ‘‘No one knows how they keep, and that comes under scrutiny once they are among the probables,’’ the ’keeper had said.

Which is exactly what happened with Naidu. His first-class average is 37.33 from 58 matches, and his A-List average is 34.09 from 34 games. He bats among the top six for Karnataka and can usually be counted on to contribute with the bat. And that’s what earned him the steps-up.

The problem, from his point of view, is that ‘‘no one knows if I have improved. I am constantly working on my ’keeping. But with other youngsters moving in ahead of me, it’s come to a stage where I am not even a regular for South Zone. Because when he is free, Dinesh Kaarthick will be the automatic choice for the South Zone ’keeper’s slot.’’

‘‘Though I can see myself playing for many more years, I don’t know what will happen. I have nott been given a chance to prove myself. (Rahul) Dravid keeps telling me ‘score runs, keep well, keep knocking at the door’, and that’s what I am doing,’’ Naidu said.