Kiran More: The buck must stop with selectors

At the outset, I share the disappointment of all my fellow countrymen on the reversals we’ve faced in Australia. The pain is accentuated by the fact that I was part of the system in the early 2000s when we were successful in making India a powerful force not only in home conditions but also overseas. The careful planning and blooding of youngsters at the right time saw us conquer the West Indies, England and deliver credible performances in Australia and South Africa.

That was a big leap forward when compared to the dismal records overseas we had in the 1990s. Indian cricket was on the ascendancy and the period saw them conquer and retain the No 1 ranking as recently as six months ago. So where did we falter? Was it the IPL, BCCI’s policies or individual stalwarts who did not realise their time was up?

As far as I’m concerned, it’s none of the above. It is easy to blame the IPL and BCCI, but then the truth is far from it. The issue is not administrative, but technical. The technical committee, in this case, is the national selection panel and the buck stops with them.

Administratively, the BCCI has done no wrong. It has provided the team with all the resources to go out and perform at the optimum level. As far as the IPL is concerned, if a Tendulkar, Watson, Hussey or Steyn can handle the rigours of all three formats, then why can’t some of our other players who are in the prime of their careers?

I believe the warning bells were sounded during the England series and the pro-activeness of the selection panel should have been visible then. The resurrection process we are all talking about now should have started then. And that delay has led to the present state of affairs. The selectors should have started the process of phasing out some seniors — and blooding youngsters — in the series against the West Indies at home. If the England debacle was an eye-opener, the West Indies series was a stark reminder that all was not well! A much inferior West Indian bunch pushed us all the way in two (New Delhi and Mumbai) of the three Tests. Had the selectors not procrastinated the process, India would have done better in Australia.

My advice on the way forward is to start blooding youngsters in different phases. Henceforth, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have to be part of the starting line-up in every Test. I believe Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar are still critical. Along with Zaheer Khan, they need to shift into the mentoring role in the next eight to 10 months. Subsequently, they should make way for worthy successors (a tall order indeed) in a carefully-planned transition. It is important to communicate the same to these three magnificent servants of Indian cricket and the onus lies on the chairman of selectors.

Another major area of concern is our domestic system. A policy review is called for without further delay. We need to check if the Super League and Plate League system is benefiting the game. We also need to check if a performance at the Ranji Trophy level is the logical step for entry into the national team. How else can one explain the absence of Ashok Dinda in the Indian Test squad? How and why was Abhimanyu Mithun preferred? Every Ranji performance needs closer scrutiny. It’s imperative that we go beyond mere statistics.

The gap between the standards at Ranji and international level is glaringly large. And hence, careful scrutiny of talent and development is an issue the selection committee should always focus on. Coach Duncan Fletcher, too, will need to take tough calls on matters of selection. The Zimbabwean has to be in the thick of things as far as selection is concerned.

Finally, I believe MS Dhoni is still the best man to lead India. An honest trier, leader of men and proven talent, he is suddenly in charge of a side that has an inconsistent bowling attack, ageing batsmen and archaic fielders. This takes a toll on individual performance! My honest opinion: Give him a rejuvenated side and keep your faith in him for a little longer. He will deliver.

(The writer is a former India vice-captain, wicketkeeper and chairman of selectors)
To be continued

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