While much is
being written all across the media about the credentials of Anil Kumble and how
he is the deserving candidate, I shift focus to why Ravi Shastri did not
deserve the job.
The cricketer-turned-manager-turned-commentator-turned-Director
had a long enough association with Indian cricket and it is simply time to put
his clichéd commentary to rest too.
Yes, Mumbai has
won 41 of the 82 Ranji Trophy championships. 70 of the 285 Indian Test cricketers
have represented Mumbai in the National championships. Mumbai cricketers have
served well and have contributed enormously to Indian cricket, but then so too
has Indian cricket administration (read as BCCI) served these cricketers for
life.
Post their
cricket playing days for the country, many a Mumbai cricketer has went on to
make huge career (and of course enormous money too) in various capacities of the game - from
Cricket coach, to administrator to selector to commentator. They have been
endlessly supported in their quest for monetary benefits. Not that they didn't
toil in their roles, but then it is quite surprising that Mumbai gets pride of
place in selection for any plum post.
Until Jagmohan
Dalmiya and subsequently N Srinivasan took over the reins of Indian cricket
administration, it was always the Mumbaikars who called the shots, even while
the Bindras were at the helm of affairs!
Some Mumbaikars
who had a longer than deserving innings in public view through their cricket
associations much after they retired from playing were/are Ajit Wadekar, Ashok
Mankad, Chandrakant Pandit, Chandu Borde, Dilip Vengsarkar, Lalchand Rajput,
Pravin Amre, Sandeep Patil, Ravi
Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Sunil Gavaskar. The last three have been the
prime beneficiaries of the Mumbai cricketers’ eternal support Yojana.
While at this, the time has come
to rethink the commentary contract of the two ‘Kars’ too, the legendary Sunny
needs to hang his ties and the irritable Sanjay needs to explore roles in
Marathi cinema.
Hope, in the near future, Rahul Dravid joins his
state-mate in mentoring the national team to continued glory. Meanwhile
Indian Cricket is sure to see some achche din ahead.
Kudos Anil.
----------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer----------------------------------------------------
I am a Big fan of Mumbai City and its cricketers Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar, but not the appeasement of the retired players!
Pics courtesy: World Wide Web.
