Master in Making from Mumbai

Mumbai has the legacy of producing batsmen of high quality for Team India. Having won the Ranji Trophy almost 40 times, the culture of Mumbai Cricket’s impact on Indian cricket is pretty big. The city can pride itself for having produced two of the top five batsmen ever to have played cricket in Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tedulkar. Among others, Vengsarkar, Umrigar, Wadekar, Manjrekar’s have all kept the flag of Mumbai high in Indian batting territory over the years. 

However since the advent of Tendulkar, no Mumbai batsman was able to establish himself in the Indian team. Vinod Kamble sizzled for a brief period drawing comparisons with his long time friend Tendulkar but failed to fame and money wasting his talent. Sanjay Majrekar could not establish himself in the side despite a good talent. Amol Mazumdar was certainly unlucky to get into the Indian side due to the presence of four legends in the middle order. No other player from the cradle of Indian cricket could get into the test side.

Rohit Sharma came as a bolt in blue. He has exuberant talent. He is among the best batsman of the next generation in terms of technique. The Mumbai School of batting is evident in his class and shots. But he lacks the temperament and has failed to make a place for himself despite the ample opportunities he was presented with. For a guy of his class, low average in strong Indian batting order does not speak good.

At this juncture, Ajinkya Rahane was slowly establishing himself in the Indian cricketing fraternity. Year after year he was making runs and maintains a very high average of 68.47 in domestic cricket having played for 5 seasons. He came in the Mumbai mode of cricket making runs in every tournament from age level to the Kanga League and the Times of India shield. His intuition to the Mumbai Ranji side in 2007 was pleasant.

He showed his class by scoring 1087 in his second Ranji Season itself. He topped the charts as Mumbai strode out to win their 38^th Ranji title. Ever since the batting of Mumbai team has revolved against him. The first evidence of class was prudent when he made 172 in Duleep Trophy against the visiting England Lions attack that had quite a few future England bowlers.

Rahane started churning out runs in domestic season, finding a place in the top ten run scorers’ season after season. He made runs all around the country and graduated himself to the Emerging players tournament. A good show there landed him a place in the depleted Indian side that went on the wretched tour of England last summer.

Rahane got his first Indian cap in the T20 match and immediately made the headlines. On a tour where no Indian was able to score barring Rahul Dravid, he announced himself with a classy 61 on debut. On a pitch favouring the bowlers, Rahane’s batting oozed class. The shots were perfect and there was no slogging. He immediately got into the Indian ODI squad and he had decent returns in the ODI series with 158 runs at 35.4. One needs to remember that it was a tour where the side failed collectively.

He got another stint with the side in England’s tour of India in October 2011, where Rahane opened the batting in all the matches. In a series where India won all the matches, he scored a master class 91 at Mohali leading India to yet another win. However an average series that time at home and return of Sehwag saw him being left out of the side after just two matches against West Indies. 

His batting style always had the class and sound technique and he scores his runs with clear shots without slogging. But with the advent of IPL, glitz and glamour have taken the front seat ahead of quality in determining the effectiveness of the batsmen and here Rahane was pitch forked behind the more glamorous batsmen like Raina, Rohit and even Kohli. He lacked that X factor and along with Pujara, Badrinath and the likes, he found a place among the second row in the pecking order while more aggressive players made it to the squad only to fail.

His show at the first match of IPL 2012 for Rajasthan Royals against Kings XI Punjab can go a long way. It was another innings of Rahane where runs came in the old school fashion even in the latest format. There was no slogging and runs flowed as if they were manufactured with a sense of ease. Until he got out for 98, none of the bowlers were able to trouble him and his runs came in boundaries rather than lofted shots. The cover drive, on drive and the cuts had the characteristic Mumbai touch in it. No wonder that he is praised all around now.

With the flawed opinion of rating batsmen with their ability to score quick runs rather than their technique prevails in India. Under such circumstances, a good IPL can take this talented youngster a long way to find a place in Indian squad, something a 68 plus average in Ranji Trophy could not. With the side losing a warrior in Dravid and two more greats in their fag end of their career, the spots in Indian middle order will be opened up soon. The form of the openers is not note worthy right now. This could get Rahane the deserved call up in tests. If he can establish himself, Indian cricket is going to be served better. Hence a strong IPL for the man may not only please Sushmitha Sen but Srinivasan too. Team India needs him in all formats. Let us hope that he goes the way of Tendulkar rather than Mazumdar.

Rajasthan Royals : How much will they miss Warne?

The champions of IPL 1 (2008) when no one believed them to make it even to the Semifinals, Rajasthan Royals under Warne have failed to live up to the expectations after the inaugural season. The side has always managed to remain in reckoning for a place in final four but could not press the final button.

          The side lacked charecterestic big names apart from their coach-captain Warne. The international recruits had a fruitful time which helped them to launch their careers and make comebacks. Watson, Tanvir had all blossomed under astute leadership of Warne. The biggest contribution from Jaipur was hard hitting allrounder Yusuf Pathan who broke into the Indian side and has been in and out. Jadeja came into reckoning too. Lot of domestic players found their feet under the guiadance of Warne including Asnodkar, Kamran Khan, Trivedi, Amit Singh and the likes. Addition of Dravid an equally astute thinker as Warne in 2011 added depth to the squad. 

          However this season they play under Dravid with Warne having retired. The team is likely to miss Warne, the skipper as well as Warne, the spinner. Dravid is not as charismatic as Warne but has his own methods. He is a disciplinarian and a conventional cricketer unlike the more outspoken and unorthodox Warne. How the side gels under Dravid will determine their prognosis this season.

The latest additions have been two elderly statesmen Hodge and Hogg, Chandimal and Cooper. While Hodge has been a champion in domestic circuits who never got his due in International matches, Hogg has proved that age is not a deterrent in T20s with a highly successful Big Bash series that earned him a comeback to the Australian side after nearly 4 years of his hanging the boots. Chandimal is among the most promising youngsters right now and Cooper proved his value with scintillating performances in Champions League.

Indian contingent looks completely unknown except for Dravid. Their strength lay in Warne’s ability to turn the unknowns into performers. Whether Dravid could manage the same is a big question. Dravid’s captaincy will be the key factor in their performance this season. Dravid is a silent contributor who sets the example unlike a vocal and overwhelming Warne. 

Batting lineup has some vital cogs. Dravid at top has a huge role to play but still questions remain on his T20 abilities. Watson is on his comeback trial from injury and holds a central role to make big contributions. Promising Rahane can score runs in this format if his debut in international T20 is considered. developing stages and will have to step up for the Royals to make the next stage. Hodge, Collingwood, Chandimal and Cooper have a big role in taking the side forward.

Allround strength of the side is decent. Botha is someone who can make telling contributions with the bat. Watson’s bowling abilities can aid by filling the fifth bowler quota. Cooper can bowl a bit and in Sturat Binny they have one of the most promising Indian allrounder. Chandimal is likely to don the gloves and Raut or Pinal Shah can provide decent back up.

Bowling looks promising with Ranji champions of Pankaj Singh and Chachar backed up by Sreesanth who can meander from very best to very worst. Fallah, Amit Singh and Narwal will get to play at various stages and in Trivedi, Royals have another domestic talent to boost. Tait’s presence will add depth to pace department that lacks another genuine quick. Botha and Hogg will lead the spin department and both are proven performers.

The biggest challenge lies in the choice of the international stars. With almost bare Indian champions, international players have a very big role to play. Watson, Botha and Chandimal are certainties. This leaves the fourth slot to be filled up with one among Tait, Hogg, Hodge or Collingwood. Each is a different kind of player. Batting is not as promising as other sides and hence Hodge or Collingwood are required at the middle order. Cooper can be a big influence in lower middle order if he can play. Tait is a champion T20 bowler but like other spearhed Sreesanth he is way too inconsistent. Hogg will have to replace Warne as he did with Australian ODI side.

Finally it nails down to the captaincy and ability to Dravid to inspire the youngsters as much as Warne. His personal form has n’t been so great. He needs to prove his worth as a player as well unfortunately. Presence of too many seniors like Dravid, Hodge, Hogg, Botha as key players can also pose the question of fielding. Summing up, Royals can challenge sides but do not look like a contender for the title with an Indian contingent among the weakest in the IPL this time.

Likely Starting XI : Shane Watson – Ajinkya Rahane – Rahul Dravid – Dinesh Chandimal (WK) – Ashok Menaria – Brad Hodge – Sturat Binny – Johan Botha – Santhakumaran Sreesanth – Siddarth Trivedi – Pankaj Singh.