A related Cricinfo talk show

A 15th March Cricinfo talk show on the topic we have been posting recently on.

Talk show participants - Bhogle, Manjrekar and Chandrasekhar.

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Virat Kohli - Turning the page

Somewhere buried in the archives here is a listing of young Indian players one was keeping an eye on. Must be at least three-four years old. We had anticipated Indian cricket's future then, which is present now, to be carried by the players in that listing. One recalls the bowlers list was never prepared - uncertain nature of their business having made our armchair selectorial task that much difficult. We stuck with the easier option of selecting batsmen.

The present is nothing as we foresaw as future then. Sachin Tendulkar continues to soldier on for India in two out of the three forms of the game. The expected transition, after the then distant World Cup 2011, did not happen. Also, what did not happen is a few of those youngsters, who have almost all been given opportunities, have not exactly blue ribanded the launch of their careers.

True, Cheteshwar Pujara was more injured than playing in the past two years, but others haven't sealed it. Two of them, Manish Pandey and Tanmay Srivastava, have fallen off the radar, and another U-19er, Srivats Goswami, for a significant while, has been limited to being just a Mumbai Indian bench marker. These three do not have performances that command attention in domestic seasons either, bar the odd flick in the middle or two. But the positive aspect has been the emergence of Virat Kohli from that list of ours.

Ajinkya Rahane, Pujara, Mukund (he's not been ruled out yet) and Rohit Sharma (still there on the fringes and, we are told, making serious efforts to learn from likes of Rahul Dravid's career), are the other promising news. Raina, however, is the enigma here.

Coming back to Kohli, at this stage, he is the quickest to ten ODI hundreds, beating Gordon Greenidge's long-standing record. However, Hashim Amla of South Africa is bound to beat that by a margin - currently nine centuries old and plenty more ODI's to go. But the point shouldn't be missed, he does appear to have turned the pages of his career from promise to present.

Kohli also is the quickest Indian to 3000 ODI runs and marginally fourth on the overall list.

So far so good - he has even scored centuries in successive ODIs. Agreed, it is not such a great feat given three batsmen have scored three on the trot in ODI history, but these are unmistakable signs that this boy can hold his own in the ODI format. By any yardstick, despite the skew towards hundreds against Lanka, Kohli may be considered to have arrived in this format and looks likely to play for a reasonable period, provided all things remain stable.

Kohli's game suggests that he should be a better player than he has been in Test matches. Before he became an IPL product and Team India roadie, he used to play meaningful Ranji Trophy innings for Delhi. In fact, he was looked upon as one developing well for all formats. Agreed his opportunities have been few and sprinkled in Tests but he did have an entire series in West Indies.

It is hoped and expected that, with Rahul Dravid's retirement, Kohli might find a sufficient ledge upon which he can work and make his own. Others will just have to bide their time and keep flogging the domestic system to remain in the limelight. Maybe some smart chap in the BCCI set up will organize a slew of India A tours for them, so they can play competitive cricket under all conditions they might face once the transitional half-ticket seats on the team bus are available to them as full-ticket seats.

Virat Kohli might have grown to command a full-ticket seat on the bus, but if he doesn't develop his Test game and consistency, he might find himself unseated again, and this time in the standing space on the team bus instead of BCCI's parental lap for future players!

In passing, one agrees with MS Dhoni's use of all round skills of all players. That's the need of the hour, besides, keeps them involved all the time.

Build a strong all-format, all round career, Virat!

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Investigate the matter

The Sunday Times, it has been widely reported, has put up something related to match fixing in the English County Cricket system, also involving bookies from India. Allegedly, the news portal claims to have a recording of a conversation with the said bookies where, among discussing the details of English County Cricket system matchfixing methodology in an itemwise manner, the conversation between bookies and undercover reporter/s is/are said to have rambled in the direction of India and the world cup semi-final match against Pakistan. Now, I haven't had access to details of the Sunday Times edition, and since I have absolutely no intention to drop my hard earned money at the altar of their paywall, I cannot say what exactly they are saying or alleging or accusing or...you get the picture.

But having heard the news from television channel sources and via social media, my own opinion is that the matter should be actively investigated.

I hear there has been rubbishing of the report by ICC as well. Mr.Lorgat, as ICC's spokesperson on the issue, is reported to have debunked match fixing allegations in the ICC Cricket World Cup conducted by them last year. And he may be right.

It is easy to flow with either tide - Pakistan going slow while scoring may be held up by those convinced they were up to no good and might quote their match-fixing travails to buttress their point. On the other hand, it is possible Pakistan's same reputation is being used to conveniently slander them further for slow scoring in their semi-final in the world cup against India, especially since Pakistan handed out a whipping in Tests - a 3-0 Pakwash of top ranked England - by English newspapers. Both are easy trails to follow.

It doesn't need to be repeated that the cricket establishment of England as a whole, since the days they participated in playing with Allan Stanford's ill-gotten loot, and being found out, have been chafing at the success of IPL and have been trying their utmost in destroying it through all means methods and agents. The mention of IPL by the bookies however, cannot be set aside employing the above brush.

The mention of IPL and India must concern us. Especially when taken in context of reports of financial mismanagement in IPL and certain cricket associations. Consider too the allegations cast in the Cairns-ICL players-Modi controversy.

India must investigate every detail with sincerity - if guilt is found as alleged, then sternest action must be taken against those involved. No two ways about it...cheating cricket cannot continue...it is self defeating to the game. If guilt is indeed found, then Sunday Times must be thanked.

If however the investigations prove Sunday Times was wrong, then haul their sorry backsides in courts for every penny they are worth or more. For dastardly attempts to cut Indian cricket short off the field by England should no longer be tolerated or condoned. Such attempts must be terminated permanently then, by making it a loss-loss game for such twisted players.

I say let the investigations happen. Conducting investigation does not transalte into automatic credence to allegtions or slander, this isn't a matter to become all defensive about - investigation has to be a scientific exercise to arrive at results from which logical conclusions can be drawn one way or the other.

In my opinion, either way, India benefits by conduction of investigation. Everything to gain from it.

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