From the iSport Cricket Paddock: iSporter Hirok Banerjee doesn't agree with Sachin Tendulkar being the best captain in IPL-3. According to him the contenders should be different and he feels there are several others more deserving.
There is more to the IPL fiasco than the Modi-Tharoor saga. And this time it's on the cricket field. Sachin Tendulkar has been adjudged the best captain of IPL-3. There cannot be a more stunning decision than this. The question that needs to be asked is on what basis do you judge the captaincy in a T20 match? The nature of the format in T20 is such that there is very little a captain can plan and think and execute on the field to impact the match. It is a format where players are constantly high on adrenaline and a span of 3-5 overs of one solid performance can shift the balance of the game. Plus, there is an age old adage of a captain being as good as his team. That though, comes with a caveat. Sometimes, it so happens that a team might have very promising players who lack the belief to perform at the highest level.
In that case the inspiration of the captains play a stellar role in transforming the same unit into a winning one. Unfortunately, there is not much of a story Sachin can fall back upon. Mumbai in their ranks have India's two best bowlers - Harbhajan and Zaheer and one of the most lethal death bowlers in world cricket is Lasith Malinga. These are seasoned campaigners and they really do not need any sort of guidance or inspiration to show their class. As far as batting is concerned Saurabh Tiwary and Ambatti Rayudu has been the mainstay along with Sachin himself. In fact, Sachin's domination with the bat has been so brilliant and complete that he has almost single-handedly taken Mumbai to where they are now.
Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo have flattered to deceive but Kieron has won a match on his own. So how has Sachin as a captain done anything noteworthy to deserve the award? The veracity of the existence of the award itself has to be questioned. If we do accept that an award category of this kind should be there, then who should be the nominees for the same ? Shane Warne comes first to mind. Followed by Anil Kumble.
Warne, because of the number of the strategic decisions he has taken and turned matches on his head, sometimes relying solely on the hitherto unknown youngsters to see them home. Who would have heard of Ravindra Jadeja, Swapnil Asnodkar, Kamran Khan or Yusuf Pathan before the IPL? Shane Watson found himself under the tutelage of his namesake and now is one of the most talented players that Australia can look ahead for the future. Also, the decision to hold himself back for the last 8 overs against the Deccan Chargers which swung the match decisively their way was a masterstroke. That victory from a seemingly lost situation was bound to give a lot of confidence to his teammates.
Anil Kumble, because from being branded as a side more fit for Test cricket to having the most explosive finishers in T20 in the likes of Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor and Robin Uthappa and managing the egoes of 2 erstwhile captains he has marshalled his resources the best. Kumble's commitment and expectations as professionals from his players have been the only point of difference between the once fledgling Bangalore and now challengers Bangalore. If that is not leadership, then what is?
Rajasthan has not made it to the semis this year and neither the year before. Bangalore has made it to the semis in both the years. Mumbai has made it only this year. The award took into consideration only this year's results but with captaincy it does not necessarily have to be precisely based on results. And definitely in case of IPL, since there has been no standout performances this year which can be corroborated by results, the logical choice should have been to take into consideration the overall impact on the team rather than the overall result.
And if you do take the result into consideration then it begets the question - why did Dhoni miss out ? There are no answers to this except maybe for the general awe and admiration and excessive adulation showered upon one of greatest cricketing legends of this country.
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Jigar Mehta
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... qualities of a captain : 1) leading by example : this question u have already answered in your article he is highest run scorer in the ipl inspiring the youngsters to follow the feat and it has been done gracefully by ambati and tiwary when he failed out in 1 or 2 matches.leading by example in the field also taking some brilliant catches. 2) decision making: he has taken some crucial decisions my it be changing the batting order or giving likes of tare and satish to perform at the big stage.making likes of jaysurya& bravo sit and playing dhawan .............................. 3) tactical planning : best example bringing on harbhajan in 1st over to bowl to gilcrist or bringing him on when hayden was batting and getting their wickets................................................................. 4)the best one is the use of his lethal weapon malingaa not making him bowl opening over and using him in depth overs where he is unplayable................................................................................ 5) listen this from the man himself in times of india Harbhajan also paid rich tributes to the little champion for his hands-on captaincy. "Paaji is a great leader. It is a treat to watch him handle the youngsters. He has a knack of taking youngsters along with him. "Given his larger-than-life image, youngsters are initially in awe of him but Sachin himself takes the lead in breaking the ice and making them feel comfortable. He keeps things simple and is always encouraging the younger players. For every youngster in the side, he is just a phone call away. It says a lot about the person." 6)i have been to the grounds in most of the mumbai indians matches this season and the one thing i saw was after each and every ball is delivered he motivates his bowlers and fielders whether he has been hit for four or a six or a dropped catch clapping and motivating them 7) well he has taken this young team to the finals of the ipl through all the qualities that a leader should have then why is the question asked again and again when every thing is proved like this ? please donot take it in wrong way but its just the justification...................................... |
Hirok Banerjee
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... @ Jigar: On every count, Dhoni or Kumble or Warne fits beautifully. I am just at a loss to figure out why him over the others. In my opinion, this format of the game leaves very little at the hands of the captain except maybe selection of the right players. |
Anmol Singh Diddan
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... Jigar has summed up most of what I want to say. So, I will not comment further. |
Hirok Banerjee
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... @Anmol: I had a chuckle to myself yesterday while watching the final. Would be interested in your opinion about all of his decisions yesterday. |
Chaitanya Sridhar
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... Great article Hirok. I agree Sachin's definitely not the best Captain in IPL 3 or before. He never has been even while playing for India. Why are people mixing great players and Captaincy? Undoubtedly, Sachin inspires players and he is an icon but that does not make him a great Captain. It's the same with Dravid (first IPL). A good Captain is one who can prove his mettle under tough situations, and this is where Dhoni stands out. From being the underdogs see how they maneuvered their way to become the IPL Kings. I agree with Sanjay Manjrekar's post-match analysis on CNN-IBN, " Sachin just didn't take risk while bowling and MI built more pressure by seeing it as a do or die match". You cannot play conservative cricket in this format. On the other hand Dhoni's mantra has been 'keep it simple and enjoy challenge' and that is exactly how they played by taking risks. Also, this proves the trust Dhoni placed on his young bowlers and batsmen. Kumble has always been and shall remain my icon but we have to see beyond our favorites. Dhoni should have got the best Captaincy award. Good critical analysis Hirok- I commend you for it. |
Hirok Banerjee
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... @ Chaitanya: Thanks ! In all of the factors of motivation, trust, attitude I think there is hardly a difference between Dhoni, Anil, Sourav, Sachin or Warne. In my opinion, the best captain award should have gone to the one who by dint of some unusual choices have turned a match on its head on more than one occasion. In that category only Warne and Dhoni fits in this IPL. Anil in IPL2, maybe not in this one. |
Anmol Singh Diddan
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... Every1 has their bad days Hirok and I think even Dhoni has had his spell of bad days. ICC world T20 last year nd then the ICC champs trophy. To be fair his decision reg ravindra jadeja batting up the order against eng in a must win game against england was a disaster. Rings a bell? So every1 has their bad days! And regarding Mumbai playing conservative cricket. If that was the case then, they would not have been in the finals in the first place with the kind of inexperienced batting they had |
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