The return of Sachin and India

So we lost the tour to Sri Lanka. (We will.) Our batsmen failed. Srinath made a lacklustre return, yet again, to the Indian attack. As usual. (Come day 1 of the series, a day when most spearhead's would be licking their lips, example McGrath, we got an almost spearhead. But then, Srinath has always been a bit of an almost McGrath.) Maybe it's time we stopped expecting him to be a spearhead. Maybe he's too nice a man to tell us. Maybe most of us will agree we need a spearhead with just a bit more. Maybe, just maybe, we need to think about it.

One thing we needn't think much about is handing Prasad his retirement papers. Come on guys, how much longer are you going to make Mohanty, Harvinder and gang wait? Agarkar, though, can wait a bit longer. We've waited really long for the all-rounder in him to appear. And nothing of that sort has happened. To sum up this thoughtlet, reduce the pressure on the reluctant spearhead Srinath, drop Prasad, force Agarkar to spend more time with himself and some sensible thoughts and end the injustice being meted out to the Mohantys and Harvinders of the world. (And I haven't even mentioned a rejuvenated Nehra.)

What if we will get pummeled in Sri Lanka, all is not lost. (Even if it looks like, for now, in Sri Lanka.) It's okay that just when we were hoping it would be business as unusual, that the cup was half full, that it was a time for continuity, that Sourav would come good and... nothing of that sort has happened. We'll just do what we're so good at. We'll turn to God. Our God. My God. Our Superhero. Our Captain Invincible. Our... everything. Our Sachin.

Welcome back Sachin. The 'Gang of four' that tormented you the last time is gone. The team is more united than ever. The think tank is in place. The team has a physio. (A real one.) The coach is on your side. Sourav is an intelligent, gracious and a deliciously, emotionally, patriotic man. (Most of all he is intelligent. Intelligent enough to know his second coming will come. Every good man has a second coming and does a better job of it. Sunny did. Kapil did. Azza did. Sachin will. And so will Sourav. His highness, the Maharajah will willingly step aside for the Boss of this big moment.)

Sachin, the brief is clear. As always, we expect the world from you. We expect you to make the transition to the next level. We expect you to relish the prospect of scaling yet another seemingly insurmountable mountain. We expect you to take India to the top. We expect you to right a few wrongs. We know you have grown since those difficult years. We believe you will grab the moment. We believe. Surely you know what's around the corner. Why not Dravid? Because Dravid might die of a heart gone mad from pressure. Please don't mess with a man who's finally got his head in the aggressive place. He's doing too much right. And makes a brilliant vice-captain. And don't forget, he's aggressive, aggressive and aggressive. Nothing must take the last three away from him. Back to Sachin.

First things first, sack the captain. No, don't sack him. Sourav deserves better. He's been an outstanding captain. Ask the players, and they're the ones that matter... the only ones, they'll tell you. Then it's agreed, Sourav's been super emotional, surely, and a super captain, definitely. Thus, he must to be rewarded for one of the two jobs, well done. By taking the job away from him. This is the time to shield him. Give him space. Acknowledge the contribution he has made, in the short time he has been at the helm, to Indian cricket. And if it sounds like a retirement speech, it's anything but that. You just got to look at how much good the break has done for Sachin. (You will.)

Once again, with feeling, welcome back Sachin for captain. (Hold those bullets! Please.) Again!? We know what it did to him. You know what it did to him. You're the one who so beautifully articulated the installing of Sourav in the hot seat. And now this? You're just like the others.

Not if you make Sachin open the innings. Now you're mad. (Yawn, tell me something new.)

Remember what happened when Sachin opened in one-dayers? (In case you don't, he broke all records.) But they will say Test cricket is different. Like Sachin doesn't know that. Like Sourav, Sachin will do anything for India. Like Sourav, his heart also spells I-N-D-I-A. And unlike Sourav, Sachin has the ammunition to deal with anything the bowlers can throw at him. He did it when he was stuck leading the wrong men, he'll do it even better in the changed circumstances. Sachin, the batting genius, will make it happen as Sachin the opening batsman and captain. (Incidentally, he is the only Indian whose batting form was among the best of the best in the side even when he was leading the side.)

Consider this, if you haven't already, among the many targets Sachin sets... wants, it's another shot at the captaincy. Let's do one better. Let's give him an opportunity to go for those huge scores. A stronger reason to bring the increased focus and tighter game-play his batting could do with. And an open road to the next level of insane greatness that's so within his grasp. (In the role of the man born out of a Sachin-meets-Sunny. What a perfect batsman that would make! Can you see Sachin? We can.)

The same something that always tells me things tells me this is it. The challenge of a second coming, Das, Laxman, Dravid, Sourav -- his form will return - in the top five, five genuine bowlers - Kumble, Bajju, Zaheer, Nehra, Srinath... now that's a bowling attack - and a keeper he can count on are just some of things right about this time. (Well, ok, the keeper is still not much of a batsman. At least he's earnest and patriotic.) Thank you Sourav. (You'll be back.) And hello Sachin, welcome back.

Ladies and gentlemen, also welcome the 15 for the Tests in South Africa, assuming the unfit ones are fit: Sachin, Das, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav, Dahiya, Kumble, Bajju, Srinath, Zaheer, Nehra, Sehwag, Yuvi, Mohanty, Harvinder or maybe Ajit. (Sachin the, new, improved, recharged and hungrier-than-ever, ever captain-cum-opening batsman should be given that prerogative. Let's not strangle the man the way we did the last time we gave him the job.)

What say? (I thought you'd say that.)

PS: Names like loose cannon, agent provocateur and other unmentionable ones welcomed at s.avi@mailcity.com .

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