Irish Cream, Common Sense and Ajay Jadeja

There was something strangely awkward, somewhat unfamiliar, and strikingly conspicuous about the Indian team’s departure for some cricketing action in picturesque Ireland. Dravid’s Dadas actually looked happy. It was so perceptible; calm faces, serene smiles and a bunch that looked like they were a bunch. Rahul Dravid was a personification of his usual serious but remarkably collected self, Sachin Tendulkar was grinning as wide as his bat slashes on the off-side, and Sourav Ganguly seemed in a jovial spirit, sporting a countenance he usually does when dancing down the wicket to riled, clueless left arm spinners. Sometimes a team just needs it’s own little space, it’s sacrosanct turf, it’s maverick eccentricities to discover its raw realities. It’s true self. Shorn of sky-rocketing expectations, and barking instructors. The Irish experience could just be the beginning of a new tide. A rejuvenation of sorts!

I am delighted that they are undertaking a two-month peregrination to the land of Old Trafford, without the celebrated elusive coach that thankfully never was. That Graham Ford contumaciously refused the job by posting a website clip may actually be a blessing in disguise for the Men in light Blue, who looked terribly forlorn and orphaned the day the bungling buffoons of BCCI announced the humiliating stinging slap given by the man from Kent. Dravid looked a despondent man, and Sachin was palpably seething from within. In India, we remain, despite being the worlds’ hot spot for foreign investment and Goldman Sach’s favorite emerging market story, a deeply fatalistic nation, “Whatever happens, happens for the best’ is the standard panacea for overcoming even excruciating grief. So jut like we all live with the incompetent jokers of BCCI, who are so thick-skinned they would have given Tyrannosaurus Rex an inferiority complex, the Ford Failure is unwittingly a life-saver. Let us celebrate a windfall gain. Let’s see why? It’s just plain horse-sense, actually!

See, we already have a decent bloke in a bowling coach in Venky Prasad, right?? And Robin Singh was perhaps one of our better fielding titans in his hey-days? So what is the obvious missing link in the Bermuda triangle? A batting coach, obviously! In fact, I have therefore remained perpetually nonplussed as to how Sunny Gavaskar suddenly pulled out John Emburey’s name from his panama hat! Blistering barnacles! Did he mean John Major? Quite a spinner that one!

Which brings us to the logical query; does this country not have a single ex-cricketer who wielded a willow (our entire historical hallmark has so far been batting, from time immemorial) who can guide the guys in belting fours authoritatively, and playing deadly, dour defense as well. Not one? Anshu Gaekwad, Gundappa Viswanath, Mohinder Amarnath, Sandeep Patil, Praveen Amre et al ---- no one? Ideally, I would have requested Lord(’s) Dilip Vengsarkar, who was an outstanding talent, to have a go.

One man who could be an ideal, terrific coach for the job overall would be Ajay Jadeja. He is young, extremely talented, an astute student of the game, possesses excellent communication skills, has proven leadership capabilities and will be on the same page as the players. Robin, Venky and Ajay have played on innumerable occasions together. I know his name has the stigma of match-fixing associated with it, and therefore many believe he is a sullied character. But does that mean that Jadeja does not get a second-chance at the national level in a different yet challenging avatar? I think if Ajay gets the opportunity, he will do anything and everything to give it his best shot? A chance for redemption, perhaps, as well?

Alternatively, it should be the way it is. Guys like Sachin, Rahul and Sourav can effortlessly play the think-tank, and besides giving each other candid feedback, can also guide the inexperienced lot on batting. If you look at their individual records, they are in an enviable assembly, and playing a semi-coaching role will only enhance team-bonding, create better spirit and give the seniors the opportunity to play the role that they can easily do.

But forget the coach business temporarily. I have a sneaking suspicion that away from the blundering BCCI, an oppressive media, volatile frenzied fan-following, absurd controversies, and above all in the absence of cantankerous morons masquerading as a coach, the Indian team will rediscover itself. Over fish and chips. And some friendly banter.

I can see Chacha Chandu smiling. So what if he calls Wasim Jaffer, by the name of the Pakistani speedster, Wasim Akram? Big deal, what’s in a name? So what if he cracks jokes on Zaheer Khan’s dangerous liasions of the swinging variety? By the time the England tour is over, he might just be our lucky mascot. Our Chandamama! Our Chandu-Mama!