ODI Team Selection: Bold Step, Poor Execution

The selectors have made a bold move by phasing out Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly (and not considering in form VVS) in favor of some serious young blood. This is a great move by the selectors and in line with my view that India should play virtually different teams for different forms of the game.

The manner in which the selectors have gone about executing these changes is rather sad. After 10+ years of serving on the team, these players deserve better. Rahul Dravid was the captain barely a series ago and Ganguly has been in the form of his life. If this is a strategic move in favor of youth, the selectors should have had a discussion with these folks about their plans a few series earlier, so they are not surprised or disheartened. On the one hand if the experiment fails badly, then these players might be back in the team. On the other hand, if the experiment works, the players will surely miss a well deserved formal farewell from the ODI teams. Also, the timing of the announcement before the Adelaide Test could prove costly. It just reinforces the view that BCCI is still badly in need of some professional management.

These changes further indicate that MS Dhoni might just have what it takes to be a terrific captain. He intends to groom his own team, and if it involves phasing out the seniors he seems to be prepared to do just that. It is a gamble which could backfire but a sure sign of a man very much up to the leadership task.