Of Rahul and Sourav

SD, I don''t think what you are saying is accurate. Am not talking in Sourav''s/Rahul''s defence .. but if you check out, most of the critical finals we lost during 2000 and 2005 is because suddenly our bowlers underperformed heavily on the final day. Take ICC 2000 and WC 2003 or even the last ODI finals under Sourav in Zimbabwe where we lost to New Zealand in 2005 .. even for that matter Natwest 2001 .. every singly match our bowlers were so badly battered, that no team can win from there unless it''s a miracle (which was the case in Natwest). Pls don''t forget our main achievements in 1983 or 1985 WC and Mini WC was mainly due to the fact that our bowling attack was able to get a side out in 9 out of 10 occasions. We did score a paltry 183 when we won the WC in ''83! As far as Sourav''s batting record in finals ... the four finals I mentioned above contains scores of 117, 24, 31 and 60. So, I really don''t think we as a team choked .. but certainly yes, our bowlers choked consistently. Even for a team like the Aussies, Ricky Ponting wouldn''t be able to do anything by himself if his entire bowling attack doesn''t perform. So, sorry mate - don''t agree with you on this one. ( Posted by Joy on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 13:23 )  

That is the reason why no one respect him after DALMIA is gone except one or two.Other than two three occasion, Ganguly never played, when team needed him most.

Team respect Dravid because he plays most of the time when team needs him and look at the way he won a series in WI . ( Posted by Amla on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 12:33 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

That is the reason why no one respect him after DALMIA is gone except one or two.Other than two three occasion, Ganguly never played, when team needed him most.

Team respect Dravid because he plays most of the time when team needs him and look at the way he won a series in WI . ( Posted by Amla on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 12:33 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

SD, I don''t think what you are saying is accurate. Am not talking in Sourav''s/Rahul''s defence .. but if you check out, most of the critical finals we lost during 2000 and 2005 is because suddenly our bowlers underperformed heavily on the final day. Take ICC 2000 and WC 2003 or even the last ODI finals under Sourav in Zimbabwe where we lost to New Zealand in 2005 .. even for that matter Natwest 2001 .. every singly match our bowlers were so badly battered, that no team can win from there unless it''s a miracle (which was the case in Natwest). Pls don''t forget our main achievements in 1983 or 1985 WC and Mini WC was mainly due to the fact that our bowling attack was able to get a side out in 9 out of 10 occasions. We did score a paltry 183 when we won the WC in ''83! As far as Sourav''s batting record in finals ... the four finals I mentioned above contains scores of 117, 24, 31 and 60. So, I really don''t think we as a team choked .. but certainly yes, our bowlers choked consistently. Even for a team like the Aussies, Ricky Ponting wouldn''t be able to do anything by himself if his entire bowling attack doesn''t perform. So, sorry mate - don''t agree with you on this one. ( Posted by Joy on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 13:23 )  

That is the reason why no one respect him after DALMIA is gone except one or two.Other than two three occasion, Ganguly never played, when team needed him most.

Team respect Dravid because he plays most of the time when team needs him and look at the way he won a series in WI . ( Posted by Amla on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 12:33 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

That is the reason why no one respect him after DALMIA is gone except one or two.Other than two three occasion, Ganguly never played, when team needed him most.

Team respect Dravid because he plays most of the time when team needs him and look at the way he won a series in WI . ( Posted by Amla on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 12:33 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

What series r u talking abt amla - the one where v lost 4-1 ODI and with great difficulty won the last test match. R u so proud of it. The team that went to WI was the hyped up indian team headed by Greg, dravid, More. What did RD do in the recent SA series - he lost the ODI 4-nil - n when the opportunity was there to draw the test, he blew it away due to poor captaincy n team selection. He cannot handle pressure n it is better he plays under somebody than leading the team. With his style of captaincy there is no hope forget winning the WC even reaching QF. ( Posted by jai on Thursday , January 18, 2007 at 23:58 )  

Raj -- don''t get too excited about Imran''s comments. He had consistently rated Inzy above Sachin as a batsman. One leads the world in centuries, the other in run-outs... Besides, since you keep complaining about certain cricketers using politics to achieve their aims -- is it fair of you to quote a real-life politician who''s an ex-cricketer? Think about it. ( Posted by Buddhadev on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 05:25 )  

Well u have a point Raj, but i guess,that interview must also be seen in d right perspective coz it was done during the champions trophy n m sure u''ll agree that a lot of water has flown since then. I think that Rahul is a real team player n always leads by example n there''s abs no doubt 2 that. However i believe that captaincy in india is not just bout playing ur own game but also how u handle ur bunch coz mind u unlike d aussies our young players r often not ready 2 play int level cricket b''coz of d huge gap bw domestic n int games. So untill v have that system working d captain will have 2 take lot more responsibility 2 ensure that not only he plays well but also he gets d right ppl in d side n then motivate them 2 perform at their best. This aspect of man management is where Saurav scores heavily over ne body else not just Rahul.So!often under him although he himself wud not be burning the scoring books but yet get d team 2 perform. But alas! our country is so fixated on individual records that v often dont care bout d team as long as our fav players score. thats a pitty!! ( Posted by deep on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 13:24 )  

Raj -- don''t get too excited about Imran''s comments. He had consistently rated Inzy above Sachin as a batsman. One leads the world in centuries, the other in run-outs... Besides, since you keep complaining about certain cricketers using politics to achieve their aims -- is it fair of you to quote a real-life politician who''s an ex-cricketer? Think about it. ( Posted by Buddhadev on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 05:25 )  

Well u have a point Raj, but i guess,that interview must also be seen in d right perspective coz it was done during the champions trophy n m sure u''ll agree that a lot of water has flown since then. I think that Rahul is a real team player n always leads by example n there''s abs no doubt 2 that. However i believe that captaincy in india is not just bout playing ur own game but also how u handle ur bunch coz mind u unlike d aussies our young players r often not ready 2 play int level cricket b''coz of d huge gap bw domestic n int games. So untill v have that system working d captain will have 2 take lot more responsibility 2 ensure that not only he plays well but also he gets d right ppl in d side n then motivate them 2 perform at their best. This aspect of man management is where Saurav scores heavily over ne body else not just Rahul.So!often under him although he himself wud not be burning the scoring books but yet get d team 2 perform. But alas! our country is so fixated on individual records that v often dont care bout d team as long as our fav players score. thats a pitty!! ( Posted by deep on Monday , January 15, 2007 at 13:24 )