Who Should Lead Cricket Team?

[raj2rif]

In next 24 hours the team for the Sri Lanka tour would be announced. The fate of Captain is still undecided. With Ganguly serving the ban and selectors and BCCI's unflinching loyalty to Ganguly, the issue of captainship is still hanging unbalanced. As per the normal protocal Dravid should be the automatic choice. But if the aim is to win the next world cup we have to think differently and be more aggressive in our approach. With this idea in mind, my choice of Captainship would go for Virendra Sehwag. That should settle the issue. 2007 is not far and we need to train our Captain for the big even now. If Sehwag becomes the Captain then who should be the deputy? My choice would be either Yuvraj or Kaif. My team selection would be purely on talent and trying out the new prospects:

Virendra Sehwag (Captain)
Shikhar Dhawan
Rahul Dravid
Md. Kaif
Suresh Raina
Yuvraj Singh
M.S. Dhoni (W.K.)
Ifran Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Joginder Sharma
Laxmipathy Balaji
Ashish Nehra
Munaf Patel
Jadhav (maharashtra opener)
Dinesh Mongia
S. Sriram

There are many talented players are left out, but then we can only accomodate 16. Laxman and Hemang Badani could also claim the place and so is Zaheer Khan. But if the aim is to build a team of 2007 then we have to go beyond the past experience and performances and give importance to the talent rather than history. I am unable to pick the one more spinner, as none comes to my mind. In the absence of a quality spinner, probably likes of Sehewag, Yuvraj and Dinesh Mongia may have to devote some time to enhance their bowling skills as well. Suresh Raina also bowls off spin.

What are your views members?

[dhruvdahiya]

Respected Virendra Uncle ji,

I will prefer Dravid as captain and Sehwag his deputy here on...till the world cup. Rest is all yours.Sehwag should take over After the world cup.


Due respect.

[raj2rif]

Respected Virendra Uncle ji,

I will prefer Dravid as captain and Sehwag his deputy here on...till the world cup. Rest is all yours.Sehwag should take over After the world cup.


Due respect.

Dear Dhruv,

You are right in your own way. There is nothing wrong in Dravid being the Captain and in all probability he will be picked up by the selectors. I am working for making the squad for world cup. Dravid has already captained India in couple of matches, but I have seen nothing outstanding about his leadership. I would put my money on a more aggressive players. While people may think that Ganguly has been the most successful capatain, In my opinion I still consider Lala Amarnath and Kapil Dev as better captains than others. Aggressive players make addressive captain. It is only by attacking you can achieve victory, by defending you can only delay the defeat or prevent it. Ganguly himself is an attacking player and probably that is why has been a more successful captain. We need aggressive players leading the team.

[scotlandjat]

Personally i aint no Cricket fan at all and the only time i will ever bother watching it is when India play Pakistan.

I would vote Dravid to be captain or Sehwag.

Regards

[deepender]

Presently, I think very little to chose between Sehwag or Dravid -- toss-up more or less...

[raj_rathee]

I'd prefer it if they don't put the burden of captaincy on our
best batsmen. Somehow that additional burden always seems to
weigh down on them and bring down their batting abilities. Remember
what happened to Sachin after he became Captain....

[jasbirhooda]

I agree with you sir,that we want an agreesive captain ,at first there was a lot of criticism against ganguli also ,but his attacking tendency is quite responsible for the improvement of team performence.most of the previous captains had tendency "ATLEAST DRAW ".Many players lack this agrressiveness.
Dear Dhruv,

You are right in your own way. There is nothing wrong in Dravid being the Captain and in all probability he will be picked up by the selectors. I am working for making the squad for world cup. Dravid has already captained India in couple of matches, but I have seen nothing outstanding about his leadership. I would put my money on a more aggressive players. While people may think that Ganguly has been the most successful capatain, In my opinion I still consider Lala Amarnath and Kapil Dev as better captains than others. Aggressive players make addressive captain. It is only by attacking you can achieve victory, by defending you can only delay the defeat or prevent it. Ganguly himself is an attacking player and probably that is why has been a more successful captain. We need aggressive players leading the team.

[jitender_singh]

Hello Sir,

I will vote for Sehwag, He is young ,aggresive,energetic and have a thinking mind.He already captained for india in absence of ganguly.

It is just like similar problem happened in Australia, after Steve waugh retired from one day side.

Despite various senior players, ACB chose Ricky ponting who was aggresive,irresponsible, ill-displined and had faced scandals.

but After taking a responsibility of captaincy Ricky ponting came out with flying colours, He remain aggresive,More mature and become one of the best batsman in the world.

He changed the statistics, build up the confidence level in the team and australia become one of the best team of century.

Everyone knows about the worldcup final of 2003.

So , Similar results we can expect from Sehwag( remember he was the only person in worldcup final 2003 who tried till the end).

Regards
Jitender


In next 24 hours the team for the Sri Lanka tour would be announced. The fate of Captain is still undecided. With Ganguly serving the ban and selectors and BCCI's unflinching loyalty to Ganguly, the issue of captainship is still hanging unbalanced. As per the normal protocal Dravid should be the automatic choice. But if the aim is to win the next world cup we have to think differently and be more aggressive in our approach. With this idea in mind, my choice of Captainship would go for Virendra Sehwag. That should settle the issue. 2007 is not far and we need to train our Captain for the big even now. If Sehwag becomes the Captain then who should be the deputy? My choice would be either Yuvraj or Kaif. My team selection would be purely on talent and trying out the new prospects:

Virendra Sehwag (Captain)
Shikhar Dhawan
Rahul Dravid
Md. Kaif
Suresh Raina
Yuvraj Singh
M.S. Dhoni (W.K.)
Ifran Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Joginder Sharma
Laxmipathy Balaji
Ashish Nehra
Munaf Patel
Jadhav (maharashtra opener)
Dinesh Mongia
S. Sriram

There are many talented players are left out, but then we can only accomodate 16. Laxman and Hemang Badani could also claim the place and so is Zaheer Khan. But if the aim is to build a team of 2007 then we have to go beyond the past experience and performances and give importance to the talent rather than history. I am unable to pick the one more spinner, as none comes to my mind. In the absence of a quality spinner, probably likes of Sehewag, Yuvraj and Dinesh Mongia may have to devote some time to enhance their bowling skills as well. Suresh Raina also bowls off spin.

What are your views members?

[itsnavin]

Here comes the announcement:

http://content.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/213706.html

[sandeepmehla]

Col. Uncle,
I just want to know why u have included Dinesh Mongia? I have been seeing this guy in/out for the last 3-4 years.......i fail to understand the logic behind his inclusion by you as well as selctors

Regards,
Sandeep

[raj2rif]

Col. Uncle,
I just want to know why u have included Dinesh Mongia? I have been seeing this guy in/out for the last 3-4 years.......i fail to understand the logic behind his inclusion by you as well as selctors

Regards,
Sandeep

Dinesh Mongia is a very versatile batsman who can bat at different positions. He has got a big hundred on top of the order. With Ganguly and Sachin both being out of the team, he could have been an ideal choice to open the innings with Sehwag. He is a very attacking batsman and a useful bowler. Bowling wise he is better than Yuvraj and may be even Sehwag. Thus when things are not working out with regular bowler, he gives an additional choice to the captain. He has not been in and out of team because of performance, but because of there is so much of competition for batting slots. It is because of these reasons, players like Hemang Badani have not found place in the team. Similarly, once missing the team, it is difficult to come back as has been the case with Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagopan Ramesh. The fact that he and Laxman keep coming back shows their talent. Mongia may not be in the same league as Laxman, but he is definitely a very useful player. While we don't have true all rounders in the team, make shift all rounders would get the preferrence. This is the only reason, I tried to include him. Remember, the 1983 winning team did not have many big names, but they had very useful players and a very aggressive Captain. The kind of gifted palyers, Azhar and Ganguly got under them, if Kapil had the same outfit, I have no doubt he would have made a much successful captain.

[sandeepmehla]

I am sorry, i don't agree with you. If you look at his record he has played nearly 50 one day internations and has done nothing except one home series against zimbabve. Instead of looking for incocnsistent performers like him, selectors should give chance to upcoming youngsters or any hidden talent.
You may say he has scored bit runs in county cricket....but that doesnt sound convincing even because there were many players liek Grame Hick and others who used to score heavy in counties but failed on internation front.

[raj2rif]

I am sorry, i don't agree with you. If you look at his record he has played nearly 50 one day internations and has done nothing except one home series against zimbabve. Instead of looking for incocnsistent performers like him, selectors should give chance to upcoming youngsters or any hidden talent.
You may say he has scored bit runs in county cricket....but that doesnt sound convincing even because there were many players liek Grame Hick and others who used to score heavy in counties but failed on internation front.

Dear Sandeep,

With what you don't agree? About including Dinesh Mongia in the team or concept of having more all rounders in the team? If first one is the case, he is not in the team as it is. If second one is the case then you may like to elaborate.

Having a particular player in the team or not having him is the choice of selectors. The performances of many players have sufferred because they were not handled well when in the team. I have seen, in Basketball, if the Guard want a player to perform poor, he would not give him the pass. But that is not the issue here. The question is whether a player has a talent or not? Certainly he would not be playing at that level for so many years now, if he did not have talent. I am happy that V Rao and Suresh Raina are in the team. I don't know much about JP Yadav though.