End of Road? Viru magic, once more
20 Nov 2013 11:36 PM GMT
Keeping in tune with this popular belief, the BCCI selection committee seems to have axed Virender Sehwag, who completed exactly one month after his 35th birthday on Wednesday, from the central contract list for 2013-14 season released last week.
While the debate whether Sehwag could still produce those extraordinary knocks with the same effortless arrogance will only get bigger as India’s tour of South Africa nears, the Nawab of Najafgarh himself answered the question in his trademark explosive style at an IPL promotional even held in the city last year. At being reminded that IPL thrives on young blood, Sehwag said, ‘Cricket is not like a government job where retirement age is fixed at 60. A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60; it’s up to the player. Sanath Jayasuriya played till 42.’
Sadly his view doesn’t seem to find many takers in the three-member BCCI committee comprising president N Srinivasan, secretary Sanjay Patel and chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil which finalised the contract list for the coming season.
By all probability, the squad for next month’s South Africa series will comprise eight batsmen and seven bowlers. Among the batters who were part of the team in the just-concluded two-Test series against the West Indies, six are certain to board the tour bus - MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. For the remaining two slots, including the one vacated by Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag will have to compete with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, S Badrinath, Manpreet Juneja and Mandeep Singh, among others. In case he doesn’t fill this slot, Sehwag will find it even tougher to occupy the last remaining position currently featuring Ajinkya Rahane.
The dashing opener, who is also eager to move down the order, played his Test for India in February against Australia. He failed to impress in the two innings against West Indies A last month, scoring 7 and 38. In the four Ranji Trophy innings so far this season, Sehwag’s score is even worse, 9, 35*, 1, 15. But Sehwag still has a chance to strengthen his case with Delhi taking on Haryana at home from November 21. Crickets fans must pray for his success because a player of Virender Sehwag’s stature should not make such a silent exit from the cricket field.
While the debate whether Sehwag could still produce those extraordinary knocks with the same effortless arrogance will only get bigger as India’s tour of South Africa nears, the Nawab of Najafgarh himself answered the question in his trademark explosive style at an IPL promotional even held in the city last year. At being reminded that IPL thrives on young blood, Sehwag said, ‘Cricket is not like a government job where retirement age is fixed at 60. A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60; it’s up to the player. Sanath Jayasuriya played till 42.’
Sadly his view doesn’t seem to find many takers in the three-member BCCI committee comprising president N Srinivasan, secretary Sanjay Patel and chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil which finalised the contract list for the coming season.
By all probability, the squad for next month’s South Africa series will comprise eight batsmen and seven bowlers. Among the batters who were part of the team in the just-concluded two-Test series against the West Indies, six are certain to board the tour bus - MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. For the remaining two slots, including the one vacated by Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag will have to compete with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, S Badrinath, Manpreet Juneja and Mandeep Singh, among others. In case he doesn’t fill this slot, Sehwag will find it even tougher to occupy the last remaining position currently featuring Ajinkya Rahane.
The dashing opener, who is also eager to move down the order, played his Test for India in February against Australia. He failed to impress in the two innings against West Indies A last month, scoring 7 and 38. In the four Ranji Trophy innings so far this season, Sehwag’s score is even worse, 9, 35*, 1, 15. But Sehwag still has a chance to strengthen his case with Delhi taking on Haryana at home from November 21. Crickets fans must pray for his success because a player of Virender Sehwag’s stature should not make such a silent exit from the cricket field.
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