Akin to a fine Broadway play, the Indian cricket team and the cricket board need 'super star' understudies' for each legend that adorned the famed batting line up in the first decade of the 21st century. This is needed not just to preserve the much hyped '#1 position' but to ensure that the millions are raked in at a faster rate than the previous decades.
So let’s start with the opener Virender Shewag. He reached the super star status immediately after the 300 that he scored against Pakistan in Multan. To find an understudy for him is not an easy job. He scores at a rapid pace in test cricket and has been successful but not as good in the ODI and 20-20 formats. The closest player in my opinion who could be a Shewag is Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane has the ability to light it up and has a tremendous potential. Will he live up to it is a question that will be answered in the next decade. Another player with similar potential, Shikhar Dhawan seems to be messing up every opportunity he has been given. Gautam Gambhir is next up. He is quite young and still is yet to reach the 'super star' level. I see him as a future captain of the Indian team in all 3 formats of the game. To keep up with the spirit of this blog, if I had to name his understudy I need to see no further than Abhinav Mukund. Mukund another lefty is 8 years younger than Gambhir and has been a prolific scorer in the domestic seasons and A-team tours. The special aspect of Mukund's game is his temperament and the ability to play long innings much like how Gambhir did early on in his career.
The famed middle order of all times included Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman. Saurav's understudy Suresh Raina is already in his 3rd test. Similar to Ganguly this lefty has no fear and is very strong using his feet. Unfortunately similar to Ganguly, Raina seems a suspect to the short ball. But regardless, this good looking young player has a bright future as a player and a captain. I did consider Yuvraj for this spot but his attitude and knee didn’t help his cause. Dravid's understudy has to be Badrinath. Badrinath has waited a long time for a break and during this time has been the main stay for Tamil Nadu, and India-A. Considering Dravid's decreased run production and increased catch drop rate, Badri's permanent position seems less than a year away. I would name Cheteshwar Pujara as VVS Laxman's understudy. Similar to Laxman (especially in his early days) Pujara scores not in centuries or double centuries but in triple centuries. Finally the selectors have given him a chance to 'hang out' with the Indian team and one hopes he learns a lot from this exposure. The good thing he has going for him is Saurav's backing. His KKR captain has been Pujara's best PR manager! Finally, the understudy for the great Sachin Tendulkar - (drum roll, please) Virat Kohli. This young lad has a good cricketing acumen and similar to the great one started off very early. Kohli is young and seems to have the right attitude. He needs to work on his temperament and the ability win matches (which Sachin has developed off late). Based on how Sachin is going, Virat might have another 2-3 years before the stage is set for him.
Identifying understudies for Dhoni and the bowlers is too farfetched. The cricket board will not let Dhoni go anywhere for the next 10 years (as will the CSK franchise). If there are any 12 year old wicket keeper batsmen here is your chance, grow your hair and drink lots of milk! The only bowler who seems decent in the current Indian lineup is Zaheer Khan. Jaidev Unadkat seems like another decent left arm fast bowler. He needs to continue to develop as a bowler and his confidence. I am not quite sure why Harbajan Singh is still in the team. It’s about time Anil Kumble gets truthful and looks for a real spinning champion. May be the answer is R. Ashwin.
Only time will tell!
To sum it up, here is the lineup: Ajinkya Rahane, Abhinav Mukund, S. Badrinath, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M.S. Dhoni, R. Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma, and Jaidev Unadkat.
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