Sachin ‘ready’ for the hot seat after World Cup

When Sachin Tendulkar was yesterday named the vice-captain for the forthcoming one-day series against the West Indies...

When Sachin Tendulkar was yesterday named the vice-captain for the forthcoming one-day series against the West Indies, the Master Blaster’s decision to take up the deputy’s job raised a few eyebrows. However, there’s much more to it than the logic that the BCCI is giving — the team needs him as a guide for Rahul Dravid, who is currently going through trying times as captain and batsman.

A reliable source in the Board told The Sunday Express today that efforts are on to reinstate Tendulkar as the Team India boss as early as after the World Cup this year. Hence the decision to “officially” bring the Mumbai maestro back into the Indian team think-tank.

“If India’s performance in the World Cup doesn’t turn out to be satisfactory for the Board, then Sachin will be offered the Indian captaincy. That can happen as early as the England tour (mid-July to September, 2007). It’s a matter of time from this point on. If India doesn’t make it to the semi-finals in the World Cup (March-April), then Sachin will be asked to replace Rahul for the England tour,” revealed the source close to the BCCI bigwigs and the selection panel.

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The source even pointed out that over the “last month or so”, Tendulkar has been dropping clear hints that he won’t mind taking up the skipper’s job. “The fact that he has agreed (to become captain if offered), after discussions with a few BCCI officials and one of the selectors, has made the Dilip Vengsarkar-led selection panel’s job easier,” the source disclosed.

If the imminent change of guard works out, in the event of a pedestrian showing in the World Cup, it will be Tendulkar’s third stint as the Indian captain. His first stint was from 1996-97 to 1997-98, while the next essay was shorter, spanning the 1999-2000 season before Sourav Ganguly took over the reins.

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