JP, Venu retreat, sans malice

In the fickle world of international cricket, one night can change a lot of things for various people. The morning after India’s first ...

In the fickle world of international cricket, one night can change a lot of things for various people. The morning after India’s first loss in the series to Sri Lanka and the subsequent team selection for the last two one-dayers the job of the bell boys at the team hotel was a little less tougher. As the two Rajkot-bound luxury coaches waited, there were two kit bags less to load.

While the rest of the team was packing to move forward for the sixth ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday, JP Yadav and Venugopala Rao were preparing for the journey back to domestic cricket. But there was something refreshing about the attitude of the two performers who were left out of the squad. There was no bitterness, no mention of zonal politics or even the usual off-the-record conspiratorial quote.

‘‘I know I am in the scheme of things. Coach Greg Chappell has told us to look at the big picture. The 2007 World Cup is what we all are aiming for,’’ said JP with ease.

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There isn’t a hint of any crisis of confidence. You remind him of his spell in Mohali and also the fact that he has given less runs per over than even the second-most economical bowler in world cricket after Glenn McGrath, Chaminda Vaas, in this series. Yet he doesn’t want to be portrayed as a victim. JP, in this series, has conceded 5.06 runs per over on dead tracks, compared to Vaas’ 6.35. ‘‘I know I have been bowling well. We have worked on various things and they have worked well for us,’’ he says.

And that is something that even the chairman of selectors Kiran More, just after naming Mohammed Kaif and Vikram Singh in place of Venu and JP, told the The Indian Express. ‘‘JP is a terrific cricketer. He is definitely part of our plans in the future. This is our best opportunity to try out more cricketers who have done well on the domestic circuit,’’ he said. This last part of his statement was the justification for including the express pacer Vikram Singh.

If JP’s exclusion will see a youngster getting a feel of the big league, Venu lost his place in the side because of an in-form batsman getting fit. Except for Ahmedabad, Venu has delivered whenever he got the opportunity. It was a ‘tough call’ as More said but somebody had to go, considering the fact that Kaif had just about made himself comfortable at the No. 3 spot during the Zimbabwe series after which he got injured during the Challenger Series.

A man of few words, Venu doesn’t much but say: ‘‘Such things don’t matter, I’ll be more motivated when I come back.’’ The 26-year-old Venu might have time on his hand, but does JP, at 31, have it in him to make yet another comeback? ‘‘Going back and playing for Railways gives me all the motivation I need. I am most comfortable with the set-up there,’’ he says.

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As for the support at home he says: ‘‘They are not very much clued to the game, they are happy as long as I play cricket.’’

Such words from someone dropped just hours back helps one see the changing face of Indian cricket. The insecurity seems to have gone as Chappell has helped them to change their vision.