Between King and Country...
The Indian selection think tank has decided that it is time to "look forward". Comments by erstwhile gloveman, now selector, Kiran More seem to indicate that this is the end of the road for Souravda. I must say that I cannot but feel for him. I know reams and reams have been written about this, with people no less than the great Steve Waugh chipping in with a comment.
All said and done, I really admire the man. He had something about him... something regal. The "Prince of Calcutta" - the sobriquet described him to a tee. The glorious cover drives, the absolute irreverence for spinners... he had something. Sachin Tendulkar has always been the apple of India's eye, but I have no shame in admitting that I enjoyed Ganguly's strokeplay more. For it had in it a degree of recklessness. Tendulkar was Beethoven's fifth, Ganguly was Rock n' Roll. Tendulkar was a Rolls Royce, Ganguly, a Kawasaki Hyabusa!
He brought spunk into the Indian team. Many feel reverence on the Lords balcony. Not dada, paying Flintoff back in his own coin was more important. Most of us remember Parthiv Patel, the tennage Indian keeper. Now, if someone can get this kid to sledge, none other than Steven Waugh (with all due respect, a master in the art), now that's something! Personally, he influenced me enough to make me too cocky for my own good.
But then it started going away... the man seemed to be losing it. Often I wonder how one who wielded the bat like a wand, now wields it like a hose. Maybe it was age and eyesight amongst other things. Souravda's batting has never been backed by a rock solid technique. It was more of a hand-to-eye coordination game. But as time ticked by, the body refused to cooperate, the eyes refused to focus. That's just me though. Whatever the reason, the magic wore away.
Now here we are, with the King now relegated to a pauper. But the man will not give up. The future looks bleak, but he clings on. What do I say? My idol is now on the sidelines, ridiculed by being called a "batting all rounder".
I know you will never read this Dada, but I'm sorry. You are my King, but this is my country; I say that we pick the best eleven men to represent it. My apologies Sir, but between King and country, in my books, my motherland will always come first.
All said and done, I really admire the man. He had something about him... something regal. The "Prince of Calcutta" - the sobriquet described him to a tee. The glorious cover drives, the absolute irreverence for spinners... he had something. Sachin Tendulkar has always been the apple of India's eye, but I have no shame in admitting that I enjoyed Ganguly's strokeplay more. For it had in it a degree of recklessness. Tendulkar was Beethoven's fifth, Ganguly was Rock n' Roll. Tendulkar was a Rolls Royce, Ganguly, a Kawasaki Hyabusa!
He brought spunk into the Indian team. Many feel reverence on the Lords balcony. Not dada, paying Flintoff back in his own coin was more important. Most of us remember Parthiv Patel, the tennage Indian keeper. Now, if someone can get this kid to sledge, none other than Steven Waugh (with all due respect, a master in the art), now that's something! Personally, he influenced me enough to make me too cocky for my own good.
But then it started going away... the man seemed to be losing it. Often I wonder how one who wielded the bat like a wand, now wields it like a hose. Maybe it was age and eyesight amongst other things. Souravda's batting has never been backed by a rock solid technique. It was more of a hand-to-eye coordination game. But as time ticked by, the body refused to cooperate, the eyes refused to focus. That's just me though. Whatever the reason, the magic wore away.
Now here we are, with the King now relegated to a pauper. But the man will not give up. The future looks bleak, but he clings on. What do I say? My idol is now on the sidelines, ridiculed by being called a "batting all rounder".
I know you will never read this Dada, but I'm sorry. You are my King, but this is my country; I say that we pick the best eleven men to represent it. My apologies Sir, but between King and country, in my books, my motherland will always come first.
posted by Rahul Iyer at 9:14 PM
2 Comments:
I cannot agree any more Sir. That's the reason I conclude saying that between King and Country, my alegiance lies with my country. I too believe Dada's days are numbered, but I do not believe he deserves the ignominy heaped upon him. Every career fades, so is Sourav's. You can see that with Steve Waugh, Alan Donald, Mark Taylor... the list continues.
That being said, I do not believe any player should be selected on if he isn't one of the best 11 in the country. It's dada's time to prove his worth if he wants to play in the final 11.
These are horrible times for dada. Specially when all these guys are doing so well in one dayers. Even mere mortals, in comparison with dada, like Raina and Gambhir are doing well. And as far as tests are concerned, he was never really so special except for the first couple of years. Moreover, Indian team is now surely, if slowly, settling towards a 5 men attack. With Yuvraj going great guns even Laxman's place is not secure anymore. It would take a miracle or two for dada to get back in.
Post a Comment
<< Home