Every bad series of the Indian team is followed by turmoil and chaos and the first response by fans, media and analysts alike are “sack them!” Players who were worshipped earlier are now thought as old, obsolete or unfit.
The captain is, of course, the first target and he is the one who faces the brunt most. Raise the question of sacking and the captain's head is the first to go. Most of the time, the sacking is unceremonious.
For fans who come to know about such decisions only from the media, such news is big news. If a fan were to imagine a situation where a captain is told that he is sacked, he might think of a filmy scene where the captain is called up by the BCCI head and peacefully told over a cup of tea that he'll have to go for good.
However, the reality is far from that. Often, the chairman of the selection committee does not even bother to pick up the phone and inform the captain that he is being replaced or state the reason for it.
Imagine the captain sitting with his family watching television and envision his plight when the news anchor suddenly announces the latest ‘breaking news' that the captain has been sacked.
Four decades ago, a telegram from the BCCI secretary or a phone call from the media gave the bad news to the captain. Later, the fastest mode of communication: text messages were used to convey the bad news.
In 1971, Ajit Wadekar knew of his appointment as captain before Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi got to know that he was sacked. In 1979, when the team was returning to India on a flight, the over enthusiastic pilot of the airline announced on the public address system that Venkatraghavan had been replaced by Sunil Gavaskar.
Hilarious incident
The most hilarious incident was when both Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohinder Amarnath landed at a selection committee meeting in Chandigarh, assuming themselves as the captain.
The committee was to meet to pick the team against the West Indies for the 1988 series in India.
The BCCI secretary, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, later clarified that since Vengsarkar was chosen as the captain only he was invited but Amarnath was livid because apparently someone had told him that he was invited too.
The 1958-59 series against the West Indies saw four captains in five Tests. A day before the Madras Test, designated captain Polly Umrigar received a telegram from the then BCCI President, Ratibhai Patel, that Jasu Patel should be included in the final XI.
When Umrigar reasoned with him that the team needed a batsman and A.K. Sengupta should be played, the president bluntly told Umrigar to follow his orders.
Umrigar refused to lead the team next day. An hour before the match, Vinoo Mankad replaced Umrigar and funnily Sengupta played.
How Mankad managed to do what Umrigar couldn't do remained a mystery to Umrigar throughout his life.
Umrigar was never appointed captain again.
More drama
In the 1980s there was more drama. Kapil Dev replaced Sunil Gavaskar for the World Cup. But despite winning the World Cup in 1983, Gavaskar came back to lead the team within a year.
That Dhoni, who won the World Cup, continues to lead is a good sign but on Wednesday there was a golden opportunity for the selectors to induct young players for the Asia Cup and start a process of building bench strength but by picking Tendulkar for the tournament the selectors showed a player is greater than the game.
One can imagine the frustration creeping in players like Ajinkya Rahane, Abhinav Mukund and Robin Uthappa. Why should they perform on the domestic circuit if performances are going to be ignored by the selectors. The selectors owe an explanation.
