India’s batting in the just-concluded one-day tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand will surprise nobody who knows which side of a cricket bat to hold. Up one day, down the next five, “the world’s strongest batting lineup” has crumbled on featherbed tracks against wibbly-wobbly bowlers.
Conclusion: much as the team might boast of roaring tigers and purring cubs, it lacks the elephantine solidity that is essential for consistency. Enter Wasim Akram. The greatest southpaw to have held a cricket ball says Rahul Dravid, condemned to Test match duty, should be brought back into the side because the 36-year-old has plenty to offer in the 50-year format.
“In the sub-continent, the current batsmen can do well, but on overseas tours, India need a solid and experienced batsman like Dravid,” Akram has said.
Agree? Should India go back to an old warhorse? Disagree? Should India persist with the failing youngsters in the hope that they will one day come good?
Also read: Who cries in Bangalore for Rahul Dravid?
CHURUMURI POLL: Should Rahul Dravid retire?
Tags: Churumuri, Rahul Dravid, Sans Serif, Wasim Akram
29 August 2010 at 12:17 am
If we’re bringing him back, we should also rip apart all of Africa and South American looking for the fabled Elixir of Permanent Youth…. or spend a trillion rupees on research on keeping a man at 35 for the next two centuries.
Seriously guys. Grow up. We are bound to lose matches. Obviously Nohit Sharma and the great anti-allrounder Ravindra Jadeja are not the future. That only means we give more ppl a shot. Who knows, our very own Manish Pandey or Che Pujara may shine in the international stage against good attacks in terrible conditions. Or they may fail. But we will never find out if we don’t get over this fetish for bringing back the dead at the first sign of difficulty.
I do think a middle order of Vijay, Raina, Kohli, and Dhoni may actually do well in tests if they’re given time and space to prove themselves. Let’s dump the untalented and uninterested and stop with the nostalgia.
29 August 2010 at 1:45 am
No, he should not come back. Not that he has nothing to offer, but after serving Indian cricket for so many years if he comes back, he’ll only be dumped and pushed around by the selectors and the team management. He deserves better than that! So better stay away.
29 August 2010 at 7:38 pm
He did not have any good performances in the last few test matches.Cant we make a case based on it why even discuss?
29 August 2010 at 11:29 pm
It’s funny how Indian selectors ignored Dravids,Laxmans, Gangulys for the ODIs since 2007 saying that emphasis was on “younger” players and they are building team for 2011 WC. Now even after 3 years we can’t say that our middle order is finalized with WC just few months away. None of the youngsters (probably barring Raina) have secured their places. Compare this to Dravid and Ganguly’s impressive show in ’99 WC in England with just around 3 years of ODI experience. Indian teams’ fluke win in 2007 T20 WC coupled with tounament wins in Australia(Largely helped by Tendulkar’s contributions, but for some reason media praised Dhoni and his young boys for that victory) gave rise to false emphasis on younger players. Also, the fact that Vengsarkar was the chief selector at the time didn’t help Dravid and Ganguly. Looks like Vengsarkar had professional jealousy seeing Dravid and Ganguly’s success, money and fame in both formats of the game. Vengsarkar publicly displayed his unhappiness for both Dravid and Ganguly especially during the former’s resignation from Captiancy and latter’s outburst against the selectors. T20 sucess in 2007 gave Vengsarkar what he wanted to take on Dravid and Ganguly.
Anyway, I think Dravid should be brought back to a series or two and have a proper farewell for him to anounce his retirement from ODIs. I think he along with Ganguly had earned their right to have proper farewell. This is something BCCI should learn from Australia, for that matter even PCB recalled Inzamam for a series to anounce his retirement.
As a side note, the current chief selector Kris “Joker” Srikkanth’s batting stats doesn’t look better in comparison to Manoj Prabhakar’s batting stats in international games who infact was a bowling alrounder . But this guy ended up captaining Indian side and now the selector. I remember this guy criticizing Vengsarkar and his team for dropping Dravid and Ganguly. But he continued to do the same and went on to make even more baffling selections during his current tenure as selector.
30 August 2010 at 12:42 pm
This is the right time to face this disaster. How long will dravid stay any ways? At least the young team will learn that there are now savior and have to make there survival them selves. lets get real.
2 September 2010 at 9:56 pm
INDIA MUST HAVE TO RETHINK THEIR BATTING LINE UP AND THEY HAVE TO BRING BACK RAHUL DRAVID FOR MIDDLE ORDER UNTIL NEXT WORLD CUP BEC IF U SEE INDIA INNINGS ALL THA MATCHES IN SRILANKA THEY DIDNT BAT FULL 50 OVERS.
19 September 2010 at 9:14 pm
Rahul Dravid must be brought back to the ODI squad….atleast until WC 2011
its the basic respect to the wall of india
he is a technical and solid batsman who can strengthen the middle order which these so called youngsters are flopping!
Dravid isnt old. he’s the same age as sachin.
He’s served india with his life and won you millions of matches. Give him that honor.
20 September 2010 at 9:57 am
Guys
Dravid was a misfit in the 50 over format at his best. Now when is 37 and in worst of forms, why bring him back. If you look at all the retired men, they would want the oldies to continue forever. Do you know, Rahul Dravid is the only man to have scored 10000 runs in ODIs, with around 8 Man of the matches. What does this indicate. In a format where individual brilliance can win you a match on a day, he didn’s succeed. He scores runs that have no impact on the match. In ODIs most of his runs of that sort. He came at No. 3 all his life still couldnt affect the match.
He was immensely helped by the performances of Sachin, Sourav initially and Sehwag later who were fast scorers. He played around them and got all those runs. He was never a force in ODI. Actually if he stayed longer India ended up loosing the matches.
This can be seen with the latest result, at CLT20. They were chasing a modest 150+, this man was there all along, still they failed to win a match despite, out of the skin performance by Virat kohli.
wake up people, leave your obsession with the so called Wall.
25 October 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thanks guys. I am really happy still people remember him.. He can play better than young players… List out 3 young player who is playing extra-ordinarily … No one Dravid can play 1000 time better than Dhoni…. Just because of politics and state wise cricket they are misusing their powers as selectors and captain. Dravid only created the youngsters cricket. Dhoni should be blessed that dravid and ganguly picked him Only luck. Tell me guys what is dhoni’s performance. Dravid should be play world cup 2011… We will all pray for that legend and will support him to play WC 2011 and under his name India should win the WC.,
Will fight for justice, Srikanth want only Tamil players… Dhoni wants all north Indian players…They are not representing our country here. Jai Hind
Dravid is not hunger for money… still he deserves that he can do it. In the age of 35 dhoni must be taking rest in HUMMER and his son’s will be riding his sports bike’s. Legends live simple life…. We are also missing our Dada, Three Murthy’s of India cricket. Nobody will dare to touch or replace Sachin, dravid & Saurav….. Hats off
30 October 2010 at 1:14 pm
why dont they give a chance to rahul dravid in oneday for upcoming newzland series
1 November 2010 at 7:51 pm
If he given chances he will prove his best… So dhoni wants only youngsters…. We will pollute this to every true indian to bring our WALL back in ODI till world cup….. He has to play IN WC 2011…… Tell dhoni to take rest….
14 November 2010 at 8:57 pm
he should be back because he is a player who can attack at any time of the innings.he is an agressive player
16 January 2011 at 8:01 pm
Hi All,
There is no doubt that Rahul must be back. Let him contribute for India winning the cup. A player who scored more than 10,000 runs in ODI need not to prove himself. He is more reliable and can marshall the tailenders.