What do you think Vengsarkar can do?

What do you think Vengsarkar can do?

Sharad Powar, on Friday, disclosed to the press that he had asked Chief Selector, Dilip Vengarsarkar, to fly to South Africa, and "interact" with the Team, and its management.

Raja Mohan (eminent sports journalist) says that Vengsarkar's visit cannot do much to the team's morale, or performance, though he does recall Clive Lloyd's impact on a similarly down Windies squad. Ajay Jadeja seconds the view, insisting that not the Chief selector, but Vengsarkar, the batsman, could help by passing on some valuable advice.

While the nation debates about Mr. Powar's move, which seems to be spurred more by a Parliamentary discussion on the Team's (now regularly) dismal performance, than anything more sincere, the move seems to have a reassuring, satisfying, avenging kind of effect on me (I wouldn't be surprised if others feel it too). It's almost like one's father going to pull up one's brothers for their recent lack of conduct.

There is also a slight filmy tone to this. The move seems, also, to be like the heroine's unwilling-to-accede father sending his men to threaten and warn the hero. The hero, however, seems so madly into his love (of not winning), that the move doesn't inspire too much optimism.

But, says Shylock, "If it'll feed nothing else, it'll feed my revenge". I speak for all those millions who persist in their faith in the promise of their country's Cricket. Their country being one that has never ever come close to topping the Olympics medal tally (or even entering the top ten of it), never even qualifying for the Soccer world cup, faring embarrassingly poor in their own National game, nor showing any sort of consistent good showing in any sport, whatsoever. So can you blame these passionate millions for looking up to the Cricket Team for defining their collective pride?

I feel cushioned. At least something has been done.