Challenger challenges….. What of Sehwag?

The three challenger trophy teams have been selected, and Kiran More signs off on a typically consistent note to his tenure as the national selection committee chairman. The challenger squads include every player included in the World Cup probables, and a few others, because more than 30 players needed to be selected.

Typically, the press is unable to accept that Kiran More had no personal vendetta against anybody, let alone Sourav Ganguly.

The big story of this selection for me, which typically everyone seems to have missed, is that Virendra Sehwag has not been named captain of any of the sides. Sehwag has been the Indian vice captain to Rahul Dravid ever since the Chappell-Dravid management took over. Instead, Venugopal Rao, captain of India A, and Mohammad Kaif, who many have predicted will become India captain one day have been named captains along with Rahul Dravid. It would be very interesting to know what prompted Sehwag’s “demotion”. Did he request this himself, or is this a selectorial and team management decision?

Given Sehwags poor ODI form in the past year, this is particularly interesting. It will be even more interesting to see Sehwags reaction to this decision. I expect some fireworks from the Sehwag blade in the Challenger. Hopefully, the fire will last through the Champions Trophy, for Sehwag in good and happy form is crucial to Indias chances in South Africa later this year – a tour which is atleast as important to the Test side as the world cup is to the ODI side.

All in all, Kiran More can look back to a terrific year as chairman of the selection committee – the most successful Indian ODI season ever, and a Test series win in the West Indies after 36 years. The Karachi and Mumbai defeats will rankle though..

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