Sachin Tendulkar makes a comeback

SACH IN, BREAK KE BAAD …

By Akshay A. Kalbag

Last week, the five wise men met in Mumbai to pick the fifteen-member Indian squad for next month’s triangular One-day tournament in Sri Lanka, which also involves South Africa.

Messrs Kiran More and Co. gave Indian fans a reason to smile when they said, ‘Venu, go, pal’ to the young middle-order batsman from Andhra Pradesh and filled up the vacancy created by Rao’s exit by recalling the elder statesman of the side, Sachin Tendulkar.

The august presence of Tendulkar is expected to bolster the formidable Indian batting line-up, and the ace batsman from Mumbai, who is just back from a trip to England, himself is raring to go to the island nation where he will don the light blue jersey after a long lay-off due to a shoulder injury which kept him out of the side that toured the Caribbean recently.

Tendulkar’s decision to take a break from the game at a time when India managed to win only one One-day International and one Test match against the West Indies came under heavy criticism from his former Mumbai and India teammate Sanjay Manjrekar, now a respected TV commentator.

However, knowing the Master Blaster, he will not take Sanjay’s lashings on the (Sa)chin, and will keep his (Sa)chin up as always. Tendulkar is expected to join the ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’, Virender, as he s(eh)waggers out into the middle to open the innings for the Indians. The duo must be licking their lips at the prospect of having to face the (Sa)chin music which the Lankan and the Springbok bowlers will dish out during the Tri-series. Indian fans are eagerly awaiting a ‘Viru’lent display of fireworks at the top of the order in the forthcoming One-dayers leading up to the World Cup in March-April 2007, to be held in the West Indies.

As for the critics who question Tendulkar’s commitment, even after the ‘Bombay Bomber’ has had a career spanning 17 seasons in international cricket, they should check their facts before jumping on the Band(ra)wagon and succumbing to the temptation to point fingers at the little champion.

When he makes his comeback to the Indian squad in the Emerald Isle a little over a fortnight later, his name will definitely send shivers down the spines of the hosts and the South Africans, and if he performs well in the tournament, it will be a huge psychological (Colom)boost – which, incidentally, was the secret of Tendulkar’s energy in his younger days!

Everybody, including Manjrekar, will be focusing on the action in Colombo to find out whether the man once afflicted by tennis elbow is able to handle the hype surrounding his return to the highest level of competitive cricket.

Will Tendulkar (el)bow down to the pressure put on him by his so-called detractors and (el)bow out, or will he take a (el)bow from the international cricketing stage on a high? It is better to leave it to the legendary cricketer himself to help all of us solve ‘sach’ an interesting mystery!

A jumbo dilemma for selectors

The selectors – once referred to as ‘a bunch of jokers’ – who not too long ago picked a team of chokers, are not so wise after all. It beats every Indian cricket fan as to why the veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble, a man who has bowled his heart out for so many years and taken bagfuls of wickets in a long and illustrious – and not to mention eventful – career, has been ignored. He is conspicuous by his absence from the One-day side, particularly when the tournament is being played in ideal conditions for a spinner of Jumbo’s calibre – the flat wickets of the Indian subcontinent. The decision of the selectors to give Kumble the cold shoulder is a googly that must have stumped the phenomenal Bangalorean –considering former India wicket-keeper Kiran More heads the selection committee. Jumbo is a true icon, and a role model every Indian in all walks of life must seek to emulate because he is a gutsy, passionate and committed cricketer. Kumble’s omission only means we will miss a player who always gives more than a hundred per cent. It is, indeed, a surrey state of affairs in Indian cricket!

Dinesh Mongia – A surprise choice!

Punjab ranji captain Dinesh Mongia has been recalled after a considerable gap of almost a year-and-a-half. It is surprising, because he has been preferred over middle-order batsmen of the calibre of the experienced V.V.S. Laxman. He offers a part-time left-arm spin bowling option (he is a partnership-breaking slow bowler) and is a safe fielder too, plus he has also enjoyed a successful stint with Leicestershire in the English county championship this season to boot, which gives him a slight edge over Laxman, although the stylish Hyderabadi right-hander is a far better batsman than the Punjab southpaw. The million-dollar question now is: Will Mongia’s comeback inspire the other Indians playing county cricket in England at the moment-Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and possibly even Sourav Ganguly-to work harder towards earnnig a recall to the Indian side?

Till that poser is answered, let us hope that the Men in Blue tame the Sri Lankan lions in their own den and also beat South Africa to lift the trophy, and not give the billion-strong Indian fans the blues!