By Rama Lingam
Krishnamachari Srikanth hails from an orthodax Brahmin family in south Madras. He was stoutly opposed and even thrashed by his father in his childhood days for playing cricket by neglecting his studies.He has been appointed by the Board of Cricket Control in India as the Chairman of the National Selection committee on 27/09/2008.
K.Srikanth has many credentials for his appointment. He has a passion for cricket.He is known for his forthright comments, views and criticism about the players. He used to critically analyse the cricket teams for their performance in a cricket match judging them according to their merits. He is unbiased, a beautiful commentator and a good columnist. He has got his own web site to dwell upon cricket. He was one of the 'Kapils Devils' when India won the cricket world cup in the year 1983. He was the top scorer with 38 runs, when India got out for a paltry score of 187. He is presently brand ambassador of Chennai Super Kings, the twenty twenty cricket team from Chennai. He led the Indian cricket team as captain of India in the test series played between India and Pakistan in the late 80's. It was under his captaincy Sachin Tendulkar made his debut as a 16 year old kid. Hence Srikanth has always been an ardent admirer of Sachin Tendulkar. Srikanth, who had turned down an offer of Chairmanship earlier in the year 2000, has now accepted the offer.
K.Srikanth has been appointed as the chairman of the cricket selection committee in a rather difficult background and circumstances. The India-Australia home test series is on the card and the Australian team has already arrived with the aim of retaining the Gavaskar-Border Trophy in the forthcoming Test series. Indian cricket board is rich in resources.India has been in fact hailed and elevated as the home ground of cricket. Now cricket has three formats in the game namely limited overs twenty twenty game, ODI and the traditional test matches. Srikanth, being an old stalwart in cricket, is familiar with all the three formats of the game. He has also first hand knowledge about the twenty twenty cricket by virtue of his association with Chennai Super Kings cricket team as its grand ambassador.
Considering the present set up of the Indian Test team, Srikanth's task is rather onerous. An aging captain in Anil Kumble, the problem of dealing with the fabulous but aging four players like Sachin, Dravid,V.V.S.Laxman and Ganguly, choosing a right captain for all the three formats of the game, choosing a right and balanced team for the forthcoming India-Australia Home test cricket series are the burning problems or issues that need his immediate attention. Srikanth has to pay more attention to the aging quartet. Not getting overawed by their past achievements Srikanth has to take a firm decision of either selecting or omitting them considering their present form, physical fitness etc. Srikanth should not forget that Dilip Vengsarkars' policy of picking up the youngsters and grooming them has paid rich dividends both in the twenty twenty and ODI formats of the game and maintaining status quo in this regard may not be unwise. He needs to pay attention so as to give representation to all states but he should see that no candidate gets selected without real merit. Instead of imposing a heavy burden upon M.S.Dhoni, the mantle of test captaincy may be given to some other player. Above all he should see that utmost discipline is enforced among players, especially during test matches without giving any room for laxity.
Taking all the above aspects into account, let us hope, that K.Srikanth as a former test and ODI cricket veteran will render justice to his post, elevating the Indian cricket team to a higher plane.
1.The Hindu (daily)
2 Deccan Chronicle (daily)
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