Talent, Indian cricket and Vengsarkar

By John Cheeran
Chairman of national selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar has spoken the unspeakable in an attempt to defend himself after selecting the Indian one-dayside for the tour to South Africa.
There is no talent in Indian cricket.
Vengsarkar is eminently qualified to comment on the subject. Former Indian captain has been working as one of the talent scouts for the BCCI all these years. Vengsarkar's candid comments shocked many in Indian cricket.
For example, the Hindustan Times in New Delhi described it as an extraordinary statement.
And I'm afraid even Vengsarkar himself was shocked at what he had uttered during the press conference in Mohali in sheer self-preservation.
This was what Vengsarkar said in Mohali. "At the Challenger (series) we saw a lot of players. To be honest with you, there is not much talent. They are players who are good at first class level but they are yet to come up at the international level. I haven't seen any exceptional talent," he said.
Vengsarkar came in for criticism for his remarks and he had to explain his statement the next day.
I salute The Colonel for letting the truth out.
I do not want to believe that we have hidden talent out there in the countrysides and town squares, left untapped by the Indian board. After Kapil Dev we haven't had a genuine allrounder; since the days of Amar Singh and Mohammad Nizar we haven't had express fast bowlers. One who came close to the tag was Javagal Srinath.
India are struggling to forge a decent, if not menacing, bowling attack all these years. If we had an abundance of talent, we should be winning much more consistely overseas and at home.
It is quite something to make a virtue out of the dancing elephant of Indian economy. The BCCI can take a ride on the Indian elephant to the International Cricket Council and show off its financial muscle. That does not win you matches and tournaments.
But if Vengsarkar believes in what he says, that India has a talent squeeze out there, on what basis he has kept the Very Very Special Laxman out of the one-day team?
There are no question marks about Laxman's class.
Interestingly, VVS Laxman has an enviable record of scoring two one-day centuries against Australia inAustralia. How about that for a touch of class?
Dear Vengsarkar, what makes you pick a lame duck Dinesh Mongia over Laxman?
Again, Vengsarkar went on the backfoot. "Laxman has fitness problems," he said justifying Laxman's ouster. Does it mean that Laxman will not be considered for Tests in South Africa?
It is true that Laxman missed out on the Challenger series as he injured hamstring during the Moin-ud Dowla toutrnament.
But Laxman says he is fully fit now.
You don't have to believe the batsman but selection committee can put Laxman's claim to verification.
Vengsarkar will be a courageous man to leave Laxman out for South African Tests. If you are not fit for one-day cricket how can you be fit for Test matches? Are Tests meant for unfit cricketers?
If the chairman of selectors felt a resource crunch to arrive at an ideal team, shouldn't he have told Laxman to get a fitness certificate and get it done by Indian team's physio himself? Remember, Sourav Ganguly was left out of the team since he was not good enough.
Not that the Bengal Tiger lacked fitness. And Ganguly is out of both one-dayers and Tests.
It is silly to deny Laxman his rightful place in Indian one-day team on his alleged lack of fitness.
Truth hurts, Vengsarkar. And don't fall back on truth when it suits you and ignore it when it does not fit in with your designs.