He says "Let us accept that England played better cricket while nothing really clicked for us. These things happen. England utilised the conditions better than we did. We are not the No. 1 in Test cricket any more, but I am sure we will regain the spot in 12-18 months."
The performance of the Indian team in England has been a huge disappointment. What would you say are the reasons?
Let us accept that England played better cricket while nothing really clicked for us. These things happen. England utilised the conditions better than we did. We are not the No. 1 in Test cricket any more, but I am sure we will regain the spot in 12-18 months.
If you were to pick one reason for the poor performance, what would that be?
I would say that the batting failed due to technical reasons. We have a long and celebrated line-up, but it was not equal to taking on a relentless attack based on swing and seam conditions in England that were very good for such bowling. I do not for a minute consider the fatigue factor for the defeats. Our batting simply was not equal to the challenge.
Did you foresee us so easily giving away the No. 1 Test ranking earned with great difficulty?
The mood was actually confident after the West Indies tour where a virtual second XI won the one-day series, and the Test series was won without the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar and Zaheer. If I were to pick one reason why we lost the No. 1 ranking like this, I would say that our team was perhaps satisfied with retaining the No. 1 spot rather than aiming higher.
Maybe, we did not have the intensity of the Australians when they were No. 1 and wanted to win every Test. This is an important lesson we learnt from this experience of getting to No. 1 and falling from there.
Looking back, how would you rate the performance of the present selection committee?
I can proudly say that we have done a good job. There are times when things don’t exactly go the way you want. But one must not forget that it was the same team that dominated world cricket for two seasons. We have been fair and honest and were always transparent. Selection is often a debatable issue and I knew there would be harsh criticism, especially in a country like ours where the game is a religion.
Did the fact that you were chairman of the first professional selection committee add to the pressure?
To be honest, I did not take the job for the remuneration. It was an honour and I thank the BCCI for providing me an opportunity to give something back to the game.
In the first meeting we had, I made it clear that as a team we should strive to provide players (irrespective of the state they come from) a fair run. There could be three players good enough for one slot, and I had to go by my instincts. No one can guarantee success, and personally speaking, there was no pressure because I was being paid.
Rotation of players has been spoken about at length, but it has hardly been practised. What is your view?
I don’t agree with that. Senior players have always been given adequate rest, and all individuals have the right to request a break. It is a matter of balancing things and understanding your own body better.
As professionals I am sure they know how to do it.
The bench strength has been good, and we have seen a lot of young players coming through the ranks in the last four or five years. Rotation is possible only when there is quality in the bench.
There has been criticism that too much cricket, especially the IPL, is eating into the off-season and that bowlers get injured far too frequently. Is there a way out?
I definitely did not think the IPL would be such a big hit and take off in the way it has. There is no mistake in players wanting to be a part of such an exciting, competitive and lucrative league. The shelf life of athletes is not long and you cannot find fault with players trying to make the most of it.
Again, it is up to the individual to know what is best for him. It is a conscience call each player has to take. If his body needs rest for a few games in between, he has to accept it. If one continues to play with a niggle, then there is no one else to fault.
The schedule is tight these days. That leaves little time for players to prepare for tough tours. Don’t you agree that more warm-up games would help players acclimatise better?
Well, it has been this way for quite some time. During my playing days we used to get more games before the internationals started for players to adapt.
The way it happens now is the same for players all over the world. Coming to warm-up games, it is an issue that has to be addressed quickly. I also read Anil Kumble stressing the same thing. I am sure the board will work on it before the Australia tour. Players who overcome all this and still perform end up as greats, like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, to name a few.
The world is still divided on different players and captains for the three formats. What is your take?
It depends of the captain’s choice if he wants to lead in all the three formats. There will always be a certain section of players who will excel in a particular format. It is not easy to be a consistent member of the team in all three formats but it is not impossible. One has to have one’s basics in place. As for captaincy, there are captains who are comfortable being at the helm in all formats.
