Time was, when man could not have expected to land on the moon.
Time was, when it seemed insane to expect some kind of technology would present and connect you to anything anywhere in the world at just the 'click' of a 'mouse'.
Time was, when it was inconceivable to think that a person could talk to another person at another end of the world, without having to blow his lungs away in trying to be audible to 'such a far' distance and that too, while being mobile, on the move.
Time was, when I used to think Ravindra Jadeja could bat.
Yes.
I first saw him struggle at the World T20 in England, and I thought he was too raw at the international circuit and considering the team's form, fortunes and match situations, most of his early knocks seemed a baptism by fire.
However, many matches, heartaches, frustrations and benefits-of-doubt later, I realized he is not going anywhere. Even after enough of chances, big-match experience, and backing provided to him.
The guy has simply stagnated bigtime.
But, being an eternal optimist, I don't mean to write this piece as an obituary for him. Hope he improves and earns and commands his place back in the Indian team (he needs to some day get dropped in the first place though, to make a comeback!).
However, being a pragmatist too, I don't see him as a guy who belongs there, at the highest level, as of now. Time after time, chance after chance, every time he has fluffed any opportunity that has come his way.
Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for India, the country is too big with too many talented players around, to fill up in atleast the shoes he'd (ok....make that he 'should') have to vacate on being dropped. Certainly not with the level of his game at the moment.
With precisely 8 games to play at home before THE Cup in 2011, we really need to get our core people in the mix. The Kohlis, the Unadkats, the Saurabh Tyagis, the Pujaras - they are all there, waiting.
Question is, do we have enough time to even blood a youngster NOW? Isn't this lack of planning/vision? What are we waiting for, when we see Jadeja fail?
For that one average flash in the pan, when he can secure his place for atleast a year? He's had enough chances, just be fair to all others too. Most of all, be fair to the chances of the team.
The problem, though, is not just this.
Why does the selection committee play him, time and time again? Just because he can be used to do both bat and ball (pathetically)?
Isn't Irfan Pathan (even Yusuf Pathan) a better choice than him? Surely, the bowler in Jadeja hasn't exactly turned out to be earth-shaking material either.
Okay, he's alright (at best) at containing batsmen (that too, only on his day), and can scratch his way to a 20-odd in just under 40 deliveries. Is that good enough for an Indian No. 7 in ODI cricket, especially when he is expected to come to the crease most often during or just before the slog overs?
Rohit Sharma is another case study on what goes inside the insides of talented people who do not get to transcend from being good to at least better and wonderful, if not great.
Only goes on to show how great Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is.
To have talent and ability is one thing.
But to adapt, not relax, have the passion, enthusiasm, love and the will to always evolve and improve is another.
That's what separates the chaff from the grain. The men from the boys.
The Tendulkars from the Ravindars.
Till our players understand the merit behind having rigorous and seriously-taken nets and performance analysis sessions...
Till our selectors understand the need to ensure a non-performer (however potentially talented) does not take his spot for granted despite numerous chances...
Till the players themselves start yearning to get a feel of the pride one would get after turning a match around for India (instead of just the gift of turning up for India)....
Till we evolve together as a team...
...we shall keep being helpless witnesses to same results from same situations from the same players, match after match.
We would do better to learn from our mistakes and atleast not repeat the same ones again. Let's just give room to performers and performances and not on those who do not seem keen to learn or put in their best foot forward. Otherwise, we all know it will just be a case of deja-vu, yet again.
