After failing to make it to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 for the third time in a row, some serious introspection is required by the BCCI as far as identifying right players for the shortest format of the game is concerned.
With the team failing to make an impact again, the new selection committee under the chairmanship of Sandeep Patil will have to think seriously whether they want a complete overhaul of the T20 side or focus on easing out some of the senior players from this particular squad.
If one tries to dissect the team’s dismal Twenty20 campaign, the repeated failures of two seniormost cricketers — Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan — has dented India’s chances to a large extent.
The mercurial opener played three matches in the tournament, scoring just 54 runs at an average of 18. He was rested for the England game and then dropped for the Australia game which was criticised by a lot of former players like Ravi Shastri and Aravinda de’Silva.
However, Sehwag never showed intent during the other three innings which raised serious questions as to whether he fits into this T20 side any more.
If someone of Sehwag’s talent is in the side, one expects him to play atleast till the 15th over and take the match away from the opposition, just like Chris Gayle does it for the West Indies.
Sehwag had repeatedly got out playing rash shots and the age-old execuse of “playing my natural game” isn’t good enough.
A more than capable off-spinner, it’s also baffling to see why he doesn’t bowl more often. Is it Dhoni’s lack of faith in his bowling abilities or his troubled shoulder which had undergone surgery? In both cases then, his place in the team will come under increasing scrutiny.
PTI
