Respect or remove senior players? Indian cricket's biggest dilemma

Tags: Cricwaves Columns, Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, Rahul Sharad Dravid

Published on: Jan 31, 2012

Should Team India force retirement to its Senior Players or show them the respect inspite of the failure in Australia?

India's embarrassing performance in Australia left even their most loyal fans infuriated, leave alone their critics. And for a change both parties have something in common - they both want new and young faces in the Test side, and seniors to take an exit route. Of course the intensity in their demand is different.
While the fans after losing it, try to regain their composure and try to stand by their team, the critics are forever ready with their knives out.
The question is - do you shove off the heroes who had once scripted innumerable victories, saved matches and brought laurels to the country because they are no longer that fit, young and effective? Or do you give them a proper send off because they deserve every bit of it? Now is the dilemma part - If you just axe them, and you know there won't be any more comebacks, it is showing disrespect to the players who had saved India a many blushes. And if you wait for them to choose the place and time to call it quits, it will be unfair to the team, the fans and the more deserving candidates. So what do you do?
The answer, perhaps, is some close-door talk between these players and the administration. And the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is a champion at doing these behind-the-curtain talks. And this is one close-door talk that would not harm anyone. It's time the two parties shared their future plans, immediate and the long-term.
The general opinion is that though it's time for these seniors to pave the way for the younger lot, they must be given a fair chance to go respectfully. India play Test cricket after 7-8 months, and both the players and the management have sufficient time to draw the roadmap.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also believes that while performance should be the sole criteria for selection, the seniors, who are nearing their end, must be shown respect.
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid“The greats in the team are nearing 40 but the cricket fraternity must show respect to them. I don't disagree with the notion that performance is the sole criteria for picking teams, but the seniors need to be handled properly. They are mature enough to know what is right for the team and they should be allowed to decide when they want to go,” he wrote in his column for a leading national daily.
“We all know that time is running out for them and I wouldn't be surprised if the announcements come sooner rather than later, but they should be allowed to do it in their own way. India will not play Test cricket for some time now and it will give them enough time to take stock of the performance of the team,” he added.
Even Bishen Singh Bedi, legendary off-spinner, said the players were good enough to take the decision and there was no need to give suggestions.
"Please show some respect to the players who have served the country for so long," Bedi said. "They don't need our suggestions as to when they should retire.
"Someone will eventually take their places. But we will probably never be able to find replacements for these once-in-a-generation players,” he added.
Perhaps, that’s the best way to go. Talk to them and slowly phase them out, like Australia did with Steve Waugh. He was given a grand farewell while everyone knew his last series against India in 2003-04 was an agreed series. After all these years, at least we know that the Australian legend was given a fitting chance to say goodbye. Our heroes for almost two decades definitely deserve that much respect.

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