THE premier match of India's domestic cricket evoked a regal response from one of its most gifted cricketers but it was a pity that the performance was not watched by the National selectors who had left the venue on the fourth day. It may not have mattered to them because they had not assembled to watch V. V. S. Laxman, the skipper of the Rest of India team, which retained the title in a convincing fashion.
The Irani Cup for years had come to be regarded as the selection trial, announcing the start of the season. The best of the talent was on display as the selectors looked around for raising the standard of the bench strength. There was, however, not much to be gained from this match because the performances came from cricketers already figuring in the scheme of things.
The selectors were quite forthcoming in discussing their policies for the season and there was enough indication that consistency was going to play a vital role. "We want to look at creating a pool with the next World Cup in mind. The exercise won't be accomplished overnight but we're willing to give the youngsters a fair chance to prove their mettle," said selection committee chairman, Mr. Chandu Borde.
Laxman's blazing knock on the final day was the most notable in this match which also saw Dinesh Mongia push his claims strongly. "There is no vacancy in the middle order," remarked one selector, dropping a hint that Mongia, who hit 125 and 90 not out in this match, might still struggle to earn any appreciation from the selectors for a slot in the national team.
The selectors, however, were not fair in picking the Rest playing eleven. The exclusion of Yere Goud left the Railways batsman disappointed. The highest run-getter of last season could not even get to play the Irani Cup. Among those who played and yet failed to make an impact were openers Akash Chopra and Vinayak Mane, left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi and left-arm seamer Salabh Srivastava, who broke down after bowling just 4.5 overs.
Baroda, which won the Ranji Trophy final against Railways last season, was a depleted side. Missing from its ranks were left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan and batsman Jacob Martin. All-rounder Ajit Bohite had shifted to Railways but credit to the Ranji champion that it managed to give the Rest a stiff fight until Laxman's class and Dinesh Mongia's determination thwarted its plans.
The selection of the Rest of India team showed the emphasis on youth as efforts were on to pick and groom bowlers keeping in mind the fact that Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad would struggle to make it to the World Cup team. The selectors appeared convinced that they had to invest in youth and it was appropriate time to begin the scouting programme.
One youngster who made a big impression on the selectors was Tinu Yohannan, the gangling fast bowler from Kerala. His aggressive attitude was a welcome change and it stood out because this was Yohannan's first big match. "He's raw" commented a selector but agreed that among the youngsters on view he was the most talented. For Sanjay Jagdale, the selector from Central Zone, the outstanding feature of Yohannan's bowling was his strength. "He's a strong lad and bowled with enthusiasm even in the last hour of the day," said Mr. Jagdale with colleague Mr. Shivlal Yadav nodding in agreement.
Yohannan got two wickets in each innings but deserved much more. The most successful Baroda batsman, Connor Williams, was lucky to earn a reprieve when Laxman grassed a sitter with the batsman on six. Williams was given five more 'lives' in his innings of 143 which saw Baroda post a challenging total. In the second innings, Williams produced a flawless effort but not enough to pave the way for a win.
If Rest won the first round by claiming the first innings lead the credit lay with Dinesh Mongia. "He batted with great responsibility. It was actually his innings which gave us the stage to fight. It was a team effort no doubt but Dinesh had a major role to play," said Laxman, playing down his own effort which flattened Baroda's hopes.
For off-spinner Sarandeep Singh, the venue brought back memories of his splendid Test debut at the VCA Stadium. "He's the best off-spinner in the country," commented one selector as Sarandeep picked five Baroda wickets in the first innings, foxing two victims with the drifter. Sarandeep added three more wickets in the second innings with Williams' dismissal coming at a very crucial stage. "I enjoyed bowling on this track. It's always good to start the season with wickets against your name," said Sarandeep. The pitch came in for praise from both the skippers even if it was two-paced on the last three days. "Such pitches bring out the best out of you and test your skills to the full," said Williams, who could draw satisfaction from his individual show in this match.
The other man who served Baroda well was left-arm spinner Valmik Buch. His five-wicket haul in the first innings was a statement of his potential as he foxed the batsmen in the air, especially the ball with which he accounted for Laxman. But the Hyderabadi won the battle in the second innings when he picked Buch for special treatment, blasting him for 13 fours and two sixes. Laxman's charge on Buch was the deciding factor as the rest of the Baroda bowlers lacked the ability to make any dents in the Rest camp.
Dinesh Mongia was adjudged the 'man of the match' but the most sensational performance came from Laxman, who hit his second consecutive century in the Irani Cup, having cracked a classy 167 against Mumbai last year.
The Rest of India was clearly the better side but Baroda had its moments too. "If only we had taken Laxman's catch," said Williams, referring to the catch spilled on the fourth day when the batsman was on 12. The Rest captain could have pointed the six chances that Williams got in his first innings. "It's all part of the game," said Laxman. "What matters most is how you use the chances," he added. The Hyderabadi capitalised by playing a matchwinning effort which was an ideal warm-up for him prior to the Test series in South Africa. Baroda was beaten but not disgraced while Rest was a fitting winner of the 2001 edition of the Irani Cup.
Brief scores:Baroda 318 (Connor Williams 143, Nayan Mongia 31, Himanshu Jadhav 43, Rakesh Patel 44, Sarandeep Singh five for 78) and 285 (Connor Williams 83, Nayan Mongia 52, Himanshu Jadhav 43, Irfan Pathan Jr. 32, Sarandeep Singh three for 75) lost to Rest of India 331 (Vinayak Mane 48, Dinesh Mongia 125, Ajay Ratra 61, Valmik Buch five for 94, Irfan Pathan Jr. three for 95) and 273 for four (V.V.S. Laxman 148, Dinesh Mongia 90 not out).
ONCE, former Delhi skipper K. P. Bhaskar batted his way into the reckoning by slamming a double century in a Ranji Trophy knockout match. He obviously expected a call from the National selectors but the chairman, who later went on to become the Board president, had some really exacting standards. "You have to get a triple century lad, to get ahead of others," the words from the 'learned' official left Bhaskar stunned.
Today, Punjab left-hander Dinesh Mongia finds himself in a similar situation as the selectors continue to set new and tougher demands on this prolific scorer. His triple century in the North Zone Ranji Trophy league does not count much, having come against Jammu and Kashmir. His two double centuries in the last edition of the Duleep Trophy also do not count much, having come on placid tracks and more importantly not in the presence of the National selectors.
Even as Mongia turns his wrath on the bowlers, a few others continue to be promoted by the selectors. Jacob Martin, for example. None is sure if this Baroda batsman is good for Tests or limited overs cricket. One thing sure about him is that he is a player with limitations, found wanting at the international level.
Mongia may not be the answer to the batting woes that plague the Indian team but at least he deserves a chance to prove his potential. "He's a good batsman," the selectors agree but cannot find the Punjab youngster a place in the side.
The middle order is packed no doubt and that is one reason why Mongia, for some time, has been toying with the idea to offer his services as an opener, just the way Pravin Amre and Sanjay Manjrekar had after struggling to find a place in the middle order. During the team's tour to Zimbabwe, the coach John Wright had spoken to Mongia who was advised to be mentally prepared to open the innings, if need be. "Think about opening. You're a good prospect. Think on those lines," Wright had told Mongia.
Mongia is prepared to open the innings too because it would at least give him the opportunity to figure in the playing eleven. And get to play when being in form. It would be grossly unfair to expect a youngster to be in constant form when some of the established players have been struggling.
Mongia is not a new name on the Indian cricket horizon. He has progressed through the grind and toiled to keep himself in the reckoning with big scores in domestic cricket. From the time he made a modest first-class debut in 1995-96, he has come to accept the fact that in Indian cricket the yardstick for selection varies from player to player, state to state.
Mongia had made waves five years ago when he produced a scintillating century at Mohali against South Africa 'A' which included fast bowlers Nantie Hayward and Makhaya Ntini. "I vividly remember that knock," said Mongia, whose career took off that day.
A place in the Punjab team with seniors like N. S. Sidhu and Vikram Rathour to guide him meant that Mongia was in good company."I learnt a lot from watching them," said Mongia as Rathour drilled the importance of discipline and Sidhu helped him become mentally tough.
The most memorable praise for Mongia came from Sachin Tendulkar after one of his knocks in the Challenger Trophy at Chennai last year. "Sachin told me he liked my knock," said Mongia of that strokeful century. Tendulkar in fact told Mongia "you batted like a champion."
With that Tendulkar remark began Mongia's journey to make a place for himself. Rahul Dravid came up to him and said "you are very talented and sooner or later you'll get your chance." Skipper Sourav Ganguly, assuring him support, advised "take time to settle."
The well-meaning counsel has, however, not made any difference to the fact that Mongia's fight for a place in the side has only become tougher. There can be no doubt that the difference between the domestic circuit and international cricket is vast but Mongia has not been given a proper trial. The kind which has allowed Ajit Agarkar to blossom; the kind which gave Hrishikesh Kanitkar to try and cement his spot; the kind which has allowed youngsters like Yuveraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Reetinder Singh Sodhi to grow in confidence.
Mongia has remained on the sidelines and the four appearances he has made in one-day internationals have all been under duress. This pressure can be good for a quality player to show his mettle but then it need not be a means to judge a youngster in a hurry.
At the start of his career, Dronacharya Desh Prem Azad had advised Mongia to always make use of his good form. "Get tons of runs today so that a failure tomorrow doesn't upset your progress," Mr. Azad had told and Mongia has not forgotten those words. His attempt at any level is to translate a good start into a meaningful exercise by producing a big innings. "I know it's a learning process and I'm willing to learn from every visit to the middle," said Mongia as he prepared for the new season with lot of hope.
The brilliant start at Nagpur which saw Mongia win the 'man of the match' honours in the Irani Cup was a reminder to the National selectors to give this 24-year-old from Chandigarh a break which he deserves most. Knocks of 125 and 90 not out showed Mongia's resolve.
"I was very keen to do well in front of the selectors and I'm glad I could get some runs," said the modest Mongia, who compiled valuable runs in a difficult situation. The 125 helped Rest of India take the first innings lead and the unbeaten 90, in the company of V. V. S. Laxman, was a matchwinning effort.
Having started the new season with a bang, Mongia figures prominently in the selectors' plans. The left-hander may not be the best batsman on the circuit but he is far ahead of others in terms of commitment and discipline.
Mongia's talent has to be honed by the experts and for that he deserves to be given a fair run. And that is precisely what he is looking forward to.
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