This old man!
Avinash Subrmanium
Not like the Energizer Bunny, like Robin. How else can one describe the pit-bull like ferocity with which he prides his place in the side. And just never seems to let go. Just when people begin to question his bowling skills he chips in with a tidy performance. Just when people begin to question his age, he shows the way to the young guns in the team with two 'I can't believe that's Indian catching' kind of catches. Just when you wonder after Robin who? Harsha shows the way by telling us just who. Robin, that's who!
No! Not now. He's still got work to do. He's still too precious on the field to let go off. And, like we needed reminding, he makes it so difficult by…let's see…by guiding Yuvraj during the most crucial phase of his first hit out in the big time, by chipping in with his I-just-must-have-a-bat-kind of positive attitude, by getting an important wicket, by…need I say more? When will the man stop? This is an old man. He's 37. And we're damn well not about to let go off him. Not now. Not after he hangs up his boots. And this might be the perfect time to start looking for an Indian coach keep in place some of the new ideas a foreign coach and the next couple of years of soul searching will most certainly bring in. Okay, we all love Robin so much we'd be cruel to wish him the post of Indian coach. But then, sorry Robin, we love the Indian cricket more than we love you. And we know you wouldn't have it any other way. (Sometimes we wonder whether you love Indian cricket more than you love you! Which, incidentally, is the reason Indian cricket could do with, no, would die for, a coach with the kind of ability, commitment and hunger you bring to your cricket.)
I mean, why stop at blooding Reetinder Singh Sodhi as your understudy? When you and us would love to have you do it with all the Young Guns. Who better than you to tell them about the hard times ahead. About the fickle-absolutely-adoring-unreasonable-infuriating public. About more infuriating selectoral snafus. About dealing with the inevitable failures. And about life as a honest-to-goodness Indian cricketer and person. So they don't go the way so many, many, many of our young cricketers have gone. Much of which can be attributed the lack of good mentoring. Something Sir Richard Hadlee has talked about it, Harsha has talked about it, Bobby Simpson has talked about it, Dave Whatmore has talked about it and something it's time we stopped talking about. (And did something with.)
We need a player like Robin to mentor our young cricketers. The workhorse that he is, the intelligent man that he is, the committed man that he is, the India-cap lover that he is, the team-man that he is, the friend that he is, right man for the job that he is, the humble man that he is, he will be the first to admit coaching the Indian team is a job that needs preparation. It needs thought. It needs to germinate inside his head. And while we're not sure the prospect of being coach of the most infuriating team in the world is something he might have, let alone seriously, ever considered, we sincerely hope he will slot it away in a little corner in the back of his mind. (We also hope the powers-that-be will do the same.)
We think you know what the job entails and, most of all, will mean to you. (Incredibly backbreaking work and even more pride. Which of course, you are no stranger too. In fact, a sucker for.) So here's hoping they ask you. When you're ready for it. And here's hoping you will accept. When you're ready for it. Thanks Robin. In advance. Meanwhile, since we can't get enough of you on the field, we just thought we'd say it loud and clear. (Considering you're such a willing member of 'Cricketers' Anonymous.') Here's to one of the most underestimated, under-appreciated, under-hyped and most valued players India has had in the recent past. And here's to more of us making a bigger noise about this promising new idea. All thoughts are welcomed at s.avi@mailcity .
Avinash Subrmanium
Mail Avinash Subramanium
