The
Speculation that surrounds all of us is whether Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar would
retire after playing his 200th test and with that view in mind the
BCCI requested the WICB to send the West Indies cricket team on a tour to India
which contains 2 test matches, the no. of matches the master needs to achieve
the landmark. But if I have to say, keep Sachin for the next overseas tour and
check out the performance of the next generation players with some experienced
players in the team. Cause if they fail, Sachin with his experience can try out
some positives. If they perform well, Sachin can happily hang his boots knowing
that the future of the Indian Cricket Team is strong.The tour to South Africa if occurs as planned would be the first Indian team that travels overseas after the retirements of Dravid and Laxman. So if Sachin also retires, there would be no experienced player in the side apart from the captain who has toured only once. So when the team goes without the experienced players to a country which is dominating Test Cricket, would be playing a trial and error for Sachin’s spot. The BCCI will have to see how the players like Pujara and Kohli who have come into the team as replacements of Dravid and Laxman perform outside the subcontinent where some pitches are bowler friendly. They will have to see that how they play in the foreign lands and confirm that they can fill the shoes of Dravid and Laxman. Then once confirmed, the Board can request Sachin about his plans. Cause if they fail, and Sachin retires, then the selection panel should have a hard time selecting players for 3 spots which was once the formidable middle-order of India.
The Board planned a
home test series because India won’t be playing another home series until Oct
2014 and it would be sad for the fans if Sachin plays his final test at a
foreign soil. The next on the calendar for India is they tour South Africa,
then the Kiwis, then to Bangladesh for the 2014 T20 WC, then to England all of
which are away tours. So the BCCI thought if Sachin had plans of retiring, then
let it be on the home soil and invited West Indies for a small tour.
So finally it is up
to Sachin Tendulkar himself to decide on his retirement by the future overseas
tours…….
-S.T.
Guha Karthikeyan
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