Dravid's odi recall could take india two steps behind, but batting legend vishwanath says the team needs a player of his calibre in a brittle middle order
Dravid's odi recall could take india two steps behind, but batting legendu00a0 vishwanath says the team needs a player of his calibre in a brittle middle order
For someone who played his last one-day international 20 months ago, Rahul Dravid himself would be surprised at his selection in the 30-man probables list for the Champions Trophy.
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Though he was dropped from the ODI team in October 2007 after a poor series against Australia, Dravid, a veteran of 333 ODIs, has the satisfaction of looking back at a distinguished career with 10,000 plus runs.
The decision to bring back a veteran in the twilight of his career has raised a few eyebrows and many experts believe it is a step backwards. Former chairman of selectors Gundappa Vishwanath admitted that the selectors had gone back on their policy of building a team for the future, but he reasoned that it was to fulfill the team's need of strengthening a brittle middle-order.
Always the case
"It may look like it's a step backward; it's always the case when a senior player is brought back. But, it has happened earlier too when the selectors have gone back and taken senior players. If the Indian team needs it, why not? It is as simple as that," Vishwanath told MiD DAY.
The selection reflects poorly on the current Indian middle-order which has showed up against the short ball by the fast men in the ICC World Twenty20 and the West Indies ODI series. The Champions Trophy will be held in South Africa in September-October and you can expect the Indian batsmen to be targeted with more short stuff on the pacy and bouncy tracks. The move to bring back Dravid is to neutralise these tactics, observed Vishwanath.
"It's again back to the topic of playing short bowling. They (Indian batsmen) are going to be tested like that. It started in England and we need to look at this weakness. Our middle-order looked brittle and we don't have a strong No 3. This is why the selectors had to bring back Dravid," said the batting legend.
Vishwanath said Dravid's solid backfoot game would be an ideal foil against the bouncer barrage.
"He is easily one of the best players of the short ball in the country. He's got fine control over the pull shot.
Technically, he's one of the best in the world. Also, short balls take a lot out of a bowler and no fast bowler would want to waste his energy banging it in short to the batsmen who are good at playing it," said Vishwanath, who was known for his backfoot play.
Counter attack
The challenge is more in the limited overs game as you need to have the strokes to attack and not just survive. "One has to choose and play the short ball, but you can't leave the ball all the time and have to attack as well," added the Bangalore-based stalwart.
It remains to be seen whether Dravid will make the cut in the final squad. "One doesn't need to look at his credentials. He's a proven performer with a great one-day record. It is only whether he is in form and playing well. He did very well in Twenty20 Indian Premier league in South Africa. He's not the kind who just plays defensively. He adapts well in all forms of the game."
At 36, age is not on Dravid's side, hence how long will he continue to come to the rescue of the Indian team?
"He should play till he enjoys it. Nobody can say that he will play for two or three years. Performance counts and it's all about whether you are good and fit enough," said Vishwanath.
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