I am little confused over Sehwag's drop from the next 2 Tests against Australia. He was long due for consistency and that was not coming. Too many similar dismissals, too many low scores and after 27 runs in 3 innings in home tests vs Australia the axe was due and that happened.
I will not go in stats, they are too visible and available on news channels and cricinfo.
But guys like Sehwag are beyond statistics and numbers. They are gifted players who arrive once in a while and while they are around, the opposition fear the team. Unfortunately off late his form had dipped to such an extent that the very foundation he and Gambhir led in their prolific times was shaken. The long partnerships were not coming, they were losing their wickets in a predictable fashion and too early.
When legends were around, a quick wicket or 2 did not matter much as Dravid or Laxman or Tendulkar would control the slide. But now with the legends at 3 and 5 gone and Tendulkar nearing his end of career, the onus was on the Delhi duo to hit the purple patch and be more consistent.
Unfortunately they lost the runs and form at a very wrong time. As a result the team in Mohali will be altogether a new look one. A new opening pair in Vijay and Rahane / Dhawan followed by run machine Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli and Dhoni. The number 7 is for a scratchy dog who will scratch, scratch and scratch and then shoulder the arms to ball and get bowled.
The next test tour of India is to SA, NZ and then England in next year and half. With the most prolific openers out of the team, it shall be upto the new pair to establish themselves and settle before the tours begin. But that is too far right now. First there are 2 tests in this home series to deal with followed by IPL, a few A tours, a monsoon season and the home season.
Logic shall suggest Rahane to partner Vijay in the 3rd Test as he has been in the team for almost a year now and still waiting for his debut. But then it is Dhoni and we never know what he shall think.
On a lighter note, may be Sehwag should start playing for CSK and sign a declaration to MSD and Srini that he does not harbor any captaincy ambitions. That might be his ticket to reclaim his spot back.
Sehwag for sure is not done and it is not the end of road for our guy. He will be back and will return stronger than ever. Sehwag is one reason I shall continue to watch cricket after Tendulkar retires sooner than later.
