The Spectator

38 th over of the world cup quarter final - India lose Dhoni with 74 needed off almost run-a-ball. In walks India’s number 7 with just one game in the world cup preceding that match. 61 deliveries later India secures a spot for the semi-finals without any further change to the wickets column. The man who came out to bat at the fall of the 5 th wicket scored a not out 34 at a strike rate of 121.42 and somehow the name of Suresh Raina doesn’t pop up instantaneously when you recollect that match. He has been that kind of cricketer - his shortcomings/failures vividly remembered but his innumerable second fiddle invaluable contributions forgotten. Ever since Raina entered the arena in the India jersey he has been invariably perceived as an outstanding athlete, an electric fielder, a dasher with the bat and a modest part-time off spinner. His frequent failures in test cricket have underscored the criticism against his batting and playing in the same eleven as Dhoni & Yuvraj in the...

The Indian team has been hit by a transitional phase and poor collective form simultaneously. Lack of long-term planning in the recent past doesn’t help in this situation either. The results and the lack of options emphasize that the Indian team management has not been prepared for immediate life in the absence of the legendary core. The fall-outs? India has had 14 new test caps and 16 in ODI’s in the last 3 years and yet the pool of squad doesn’t resonate of being a stable one. The new addition to the list of ODI debutants would be Cheteshwar Pujara. Almost everybody saw it coming, but personally I am a little apprehensive about him being pushed into the colored jersey at this moment. The concern is not whether he can play one-day cricket, but more about the timing of his entry in this format. When Gambhir was going through a purple patch 3 seasons ago, everybody felt India had found its Mr. Technique. Push in a couple of IPL seasons and hordes of 50-over series and Gambhir is fi...