Weekly Debate: Time for Sachin Tendulkar To Go?
February 26, 2008 by Dinsa Sachan
Filed under Tennis
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With Tendulkar, it’s like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.”
-Sanjay Manjrekar on Sachin Tendulkar
Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were picked out of the Indian team prior to the CB series. Rahul, of course, had been culled long before that, so his absence wasn’t talked about. But some people weren’t happy to see Ganguly go and opined if the selection committee can be brave enough to cull Ganguly, they should axe Tendulkar as well.
Moreover, Tendulkar hasn’t brought any laurels to the team in this tournament and was dismissed most of the times even before the match started (except today’s 63, of course). So that’s got tongues wagging again. And Manjrekar’s always one to have his voice heard.
This is quite an important issue for us, really. In fact, we’ve a poll running on this very topic — Which Indian Senior Will Go First?. Obviously, it was started before CB series selections were made and we included Rahul Dravid anyway because there was a slight chance of him coming back into the team. Out of all the people who voted, 19% think Sachin will go first. A whopping 38% reckon it’s Dravid’s turn. Oh really, he’s out already. So no surprise there. 26% foresaw Ganguly packing bags, but again, since he’s flown back already, we’re not surprised. About 17% folks don’t care about this at all. Oh, but we care.
The big question is: Have we found a stable replacement for Tendulkar? Sehwag’s days seem to be limited. He’s lost much of his spark. The BCCI are of course going to keep him in the team, leaning on the same delusion that has had them support him all through his debacle. He’s good, really, don’t get me wrong there. But then again?
Gautam Gambhir seems to be the only opener currently who seems to be in control of things.
And there’s no Dravid now. No Ganguly. We need some experience in the team. Gambhir was heard saying the other day that “tips” from Tendulkar had helped him a lot. That’s just an example. You know what I mean. I think, we can keep him some more.
Whadaya say?
It’ll be great if he can put his feet up every few ODIs -keep gng back to his comment in the Natwest series, “too little time to recover between games”. And still Sachin didn’t take a breather, not in the natwest, nor here in Oz. Only breathers are injury inflicted. To answer the Q: No. Just play fewer ODIs.
I agree with you on the matter that before leaving them out, it is necessary to find out the players who are capable of replacing the trio- Sachin, Sourav and Dravid. Well, it is true that searching for someone capable of replacing Sachin Tendulkar seems to be ridiculous, but this is the fact that without getting someone who at least goes near the quality of Sachin Tendulkar, it would be unfair to keep the pressure on Tendulkar.
As you mentioned, Sehwag’s performance is being faded gradually, I do not think that he could be the reliable person to take the place of Tendulkar. Time has not come to say that Rohit Sharma could become the next “THE WALL” (Rahull Dravid) of Indian team, though he has the potential yet to be flourished fully. For Ganguly, Gambhir could be the person, but to be honest, I do not see that much dominance in Gambhir’s batting that Ganguly had in his early years.
Actually, it is unfair to think that they should retire only because they are getting older. I think, performance should be the yardstick of the team selection.
I think, everybody will agree that Sachin, Sourav and Dravid have given a lot to Indian cricket and they deserve to get a pleasant farewell from the ground. Indian selectors pointed out lack of fielding capability the reason behind Ganguly’s exclusion from the team. Does not it seem funny that they have realized it after a batsman scored more than ten thousand runs in ODI cricket?
I hope this TRIO would get a pleasant farewell from Indian team because they really deserve it.
Yes.
please sign at invisible petition for bringing kaif back…
Sanjay’s statement is bang on… he is an elephant that nobody wants to talk about. But I don’t believe he should go yet… for some more time at least… he is playing quite well. As for Dravid, easy picking for the selector to force their way… poor guy. At least Ganguly has some mad supporters.
NC and Kishore:
Agree cent percent.
Ottayan:
Why?
Pan:
You know I’m always one for calling back Kaif, but not at the cost of Tendulkar. Btw, where’s the petition? Couldn’t find on your blog.
Scorp:
Yeah really. One reason why Sourav survived in the team for so long was the fanatic support he got. BCCI was always in awe of them.
And just when you think everybody’s figured the Master out, the pulls a rabbit out of the proverbial hat. This is exactly why people don’t want to touch Sachin Tendurlkar.
Elephant in the room???? Pffft!!!!
There’s your century (and not out to boot) in the second innings while chasing a score. So, choke on it Sanjay!!
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