Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

Rahul Dravid being dropped from the Mumbai match is a clear signal that the former captain's place in the one day side is once again under scrutiny. Dravid is the first to admit that the shorter format of the game is not his forte, yet so far he has managed to adapt and create spaces for himself. Now time seems to be running out. He has scored 51 runs from five innings at an average of 10. Is that deemed as a big enough failure to drop a player like Rahul Dravid. Well certainly not, is what the cricketing fraternity has to say including the Australian captain Ricky Ponting. "I was quite surprised (at Rahul being dropped). He's done very well for India," Ponting said. "It's shocking you cannot treat a player like this," said Vinod Kambli, former India captain. Recent stats show that Dravid is in the worst slump of his one day career, and he stands alone amongst India's 'Big 3' in his failure to perform over the last 10 innings. He averages a m

Sourav Ganguly was named in the 16member squad for the threeTest series against South Africa starting from December 15, here on Thursday. With the Indian team barely enduring a baptism by fire in South Africa, the selectors had no choice but to strengthen the batting line-up. Out went Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif and Dinesh Mongia and in came the tried and tested — Ganguly and V.V.S Laxman. Laxman will not only carry the load of batting but also of vicecaptaincy on this tough tour. Ganguly’s name was in the air ahead of the selection committee’s meeting that was shifted from Mumbai to Delhi as BCCI president Sharad Pawar was in the national capital, busy with the ongoing Parliament session. “Our batsmen have not played well. We need experi enced players,” said selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar. “Our senior players have performed reasonably well. Our bench strength is not good but the experience of Ganguly and Laxman should come in handy on the pacy wickets.” Laxman being thr

By SHAMIK CHAKRABARTY Kolkata Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday stepped down as Bengal captain to pave the way for his expected return to the Indian Test squad. Speculation is rife about Ganguly’s imminent comeback and a sudden shift of venue for the selection committee meeting, due on Thursday, has added grist to the mill. The team for the South Africa Test series was to be picked in Mumbai on Thursday, but the venue has now been changed to New Delhi. This is to enable the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Mr Sharad Pawar, to interact with the Dilip Vengsarkar-led selection committee. A BCCI directive on the former India captain appears to be on the cards. Ganguly’s chances have also brightened after coach Greg Chappell’s reported remarks that he wouldn’t mind if the Bengal left-hander was considered for the Test squad. Chappell, in any case, is not in a position to call the shots against the backdrop of a dismal tour so far. It is learnt that the majority of selectors