The Indian selectors never fail to spring a surprise, though by now
nothing they do should surprise anyone. Sure, they always manage to
pick 12 or 13 players whose credentials are unimpeachable, though the
cynics would say they pick themselves. It's in filling the remaining
slots that the panel invariably succeeds in delivering an unsuspecting
public the knockout punch.
I refer to the inclusion of Sairaj Bahutule and Dinesh Mongia in the
squad for the forthcoming Test series in Sri Lanka. Now we know that
when they dropped the left hand batsman at the end of the Zimbabwe
tour, they only found him unfit for one-day cricket. He replaces
another lefthander, the promising Yuvraj Singh, who has just found the
right balance in his approach to batting at international level. With
the final of the Coca Cola tri-series only a couple of days away, he
has been told that he is a one-day player, much like Hemang Badani
was, not long ago.
But the ultimate concession to the decades-old quota system must be
the reinstatement of Sairaj Bahutule, who went to Zimbabwe, saw, and
did not play - except for a side-game or two. Do the selectors
seriously see a role for the Mumbai leg spinner in the Tests ahead in
Sri Lanka? I mean no disrespect to the gutsy Mumbai player, but it is
difficult to believe he is a leg spinner of international class, with
the potential to trouble subcontinental batsmen.
When Debasish Mohanty and Ajit Agarkar were sidelined, thanks no doubt
to splendid bowling by the leftarmers in the side, Zaheer Khan and
Ashish Nehra, I assumed they would be retained for the Test series,
especially in view of the injuries to the other bowlers. Now we are
told that Agarkar has not been bowling well of late. The selectors
must be referring to his display in the nets. They do not see any need
to explain Mohanty's omission without a trial, maybe because his
selection or exclusion are routine procedures that need no
justification. Venkatesh Prasad's inclusion would have raised an
eyebrow or two, but for his record of making useful comebacks, though
most of these have been in the shorter game. The Karnataka seam bowler
does not have a great record against Sri Lanka. He and Srinath will
bring experience to an attack depleted by injuries to key bowlers.
Mohammad Kaif's recall is to be welcomed as he is one of the more
talented batsmen on the horizon. What is not so welcome is the
suggestion that he may play the role of third opener, ostensibly
because he has volunteered to do so.
One player who seems to have cemented his place in the squad, and in
fact, in the playing eleven, is Samir Dighe. Here is another brave
player in the Mumbai mould, who has played some vital knocks for India
when all seemed lost, but I find it amazing that India does not have a
better wicket keeper available. Dighe does produce a smart catch or
stumping every now and then, but he has been inconsistent, tending to
make mistakes at crucial junctures.
All in all, there is nothing surprising about the team announced, as
it has its usual quota of surprises.