Raw deal for Ramesh

The Indian selectors stated after the first Test against South Africa that they were looking to groom an opening pair. This meant that Wasim Jaffer would get another chance despite his low scores in his first Test. This also meant that makeshift opener VVS Laxman would have to give way to someone else. India's number one opening batsman in recent times has been Tamil Nadu's Sadagoppan Ramesh. He was not considered for selection for the first Test because he was carrying an injury. However, after the first Test he was declared fit and he was called up to join the Indian team.

So it came to be that Ramesh was drafted into the squad and flown across to Bangalore. On the two days leading up to the Test match, Ramesh flexed his muscles in the nets. Batting without any obvious discomfort, Ramesh looked a certainty for the second Test. Addressing the press in the pre-match briefing, the Indian coach Kapil Dev was asked pointedly about players fitness. He responded "Why do you have to ask that question. Of course they are fit. They are all one hundred percent fit." Cometh the hour for the Test match, cometh the selectoral bungling.

Ramesh was left out of the side and Rahul Dravid opened the innings. After the failed experiment with VVS Laxman the selectors should have known better than to improvise. Having successfully turned VVS Laxman into a mediocre opener from being an above average middle order batsman, the selectors have now turned to Dravid. As it is, Dravid is struggling with the bat and seems to be fighting a fair few mental battles of his own. Add to this the woes of opening the Indian batting against Donald and company and you might be doing permanent damage to one of India's best middle order batsmen.

Ramesh himself wouldn't be far from the truth if he felt wronged. The sequence of events defies logic, but that's Indian cricket - at its very best.