Team management lacks vision

AN OPENER can adapt to bat in the middle order. But a middle order batsman would struggle to replace an opener. This piece of wisdom by Sunil Gavaskar ought to be pasted boldly in the Indian dressing room. Let Sourav Ganguly and John Wright be reminded of this gem from Gavaskar every time they ask Yuveraj Singh to pad up-that opening the innings is a specialist's job and the Punjab cricketer cannot be expected to just walk into that role.

Why is Ganguly so keen to promote Yuveraj as an opener? Obviously to create a spot for the man he believes is the greatest talent in the country. The best way to get Yuveraj a regular spot would be to push him as an opener and if need be demote himself in the name of team spirit. Ganguly understands this very well.

The Indian captain seems to forget that the most essential requirement for anyone to develop into a good cricketer is having the right attitude. Yuveraj, sadly, lacks in this aspect. Attitude can make such a huge impact on a sportsman's career. It can become the main criteria for deciding one's success and failure and most of the Indian cricketers need to be told that they lack the attitude to emerge champion cricketers.

``Your guys are superstars, aren't they?'' asked former Zimbabwean skipper David Houghton during India's recent tour to the African nation. He was referring to the bunch of young cricketers who sported sun- glasses and made the `nets' session appear a cumbersome exercise.

``They don't have the attitude,'' Houghton said candidly. And he was right in his assessment as the Indians lost the second Test because they failed to read the situation and the playing conditions. But how come the same bunch failed to read the situation and playing conditions so miserably in Colombo last week despite being familiar with them.

``We're well-versed with the conditions. No excuses,'' Ganguly was quoted after the defeats in the first two matches. He could not have made any excuses for the simple reason that he was responsible for making some needless changes. The most glaring being his obsession with Yuveraj. Ask the selectors and they would confess how Ganguly pesters them to include Yuveraj. And not always because of cricketing merit, one understands.

It is no secret why Ganguly promotes, supports and protects this Punjab left-hander. Commercial interests lie at the root of his fascination for Yuveraj and in turn it has affected the team's morale. The skipper's efforts to go out of the way to push Yuveraj's career has not gone down well with the team, especially the youngsters. They are convinced that Yuveraj has been accorded special status by the skipper, and the selectors too, and this different yardstick to assess and groom talent has left a few youngsters wondering why they have not been able to receive similar attention. Yuveraj is talented no doubt but then he must be made to realise that a place in the Indian team cannot be taken for granted.

The lack of vision in the team management is quite apparent. The focus of the captain has been blurred in the absence of commitment and application towards his duty. What would have prompted Ganguly to think of Yuveraj as opener. True, the left- hander from Chandigarh had a background of opening the innings in the age group tournaments but then performing the task at the international level is a completely different challenge.

It is certainly right to give a young player the confidence he deserves to do well but then can the captain make exceptions? Can he defend Yuveraj but run down Virender Sehwag in the same breath for commiting a crime similar in nature? Both played poor strokes but Sehwag got the stick. The Delhi batsman played a reckless shot but then Yuveraj too was guilty of an irresponsible stroke at the top. How could a captain view indiscipline differently?

It is well known that the batting positions require specific mental demands and no cricketer can adapt overnight. If opening the innings was so easy, Rahul Dravid would have assumed the role by now. If opening the innings was a matter of minor adjustments, what, prevented Ganguly from assisting Shiv Sundar Das in Tests then.

Ability to build the innings and handle the pressure are mandatory for anyone aspiring to open the innings. To be psychologically adept at handling the physical and mental pressures is what sets an opener apart from the rest. There is no doubt that opening the innings is the most daunting task among the batsmen and Ganguly would do well to remember that Yuveraj, not even sure of his place in the side, is ill-suited for the job. Let Ganguly promote his favourites but not at the cost of the team interest. Yuveraj would serve the team best by reverting to the middle order where he would need to compete for the slot with an equally gifted batsman, like Hemang Badani.

The Indian team management had messed up Badani's confidence by promoting him as an opener in the second Test against Zimbabwe. The Tamil Nadu left-hander has not been the same batsman since and the string of failures has only multiplied the pressure on his young shoulders. It is the responsibility of the team management now to restore that confidence. Badani is as important as Yuveraj. Let the National selectors make the skipper understand this fact.

VIJAY LOKAPALLY

New Delhi

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