Sehwag says seniors don’t need to retire
January 28th, 2012 - 1:57 pm ICT by IANS
Adelaide, Jan 28 (IANS) Virender Sehwag feels the big three of Indian cricket - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman - don’t need to retire in the wake of the team’s eighth consecutive defeat in overseas Tests and 0-4 hammering in Australia.
Sehwag captained India in the fourth Test which they lost by 298 runs here Saturday.
“I clarify that there is no need for retirement for anybody in this team. And they will take their call when they need it and when they think that their time is up,” the stand-in captain told reporters here while reacting to reports that claimed Dravid’s immediate retirement with Laxman as the next.
Speculations are rife about the seniors’ retirement as India play their next Test in September and have no tours lined up for about two years.
Refusing to comment on the issue, Sehwag said it is the selectors who will decide on the team composition for future Tests.
“That is the team management and selectors who will decide. It is not me or anyone else (teammate) who will decide. If they think a change is required, they will do that. If they think we should carry on with the same team, and just wait for other players to perform - and if you perform - they will take the call.”
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was handed down a one-Test ban for Adelaide for maintaining a slow-over rate in Perth, also spoke on the seniors’ future, reiterating they need to be phased out carefully.
“We will have to wait and watch if there are changes. Our next Test series is only in September so we don’t want to take decisions quickly. We have the ODI series coming up. It is a completely different side. It is a learning experience for the youngsters. Once you play 100-odd ODIs, it is always good to have that experience going into your Test debut,” said Dhoni at the post-match presentation here.
Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar had an ordinary series in Australia as India could only manage to reach the 300-run mark once in eight innings.
Tendulkar averaged 35.87 in the series while Dravid and Sehwag averaged 24.25 and 24.75 respectively. Laxman’s average stood at 19.37.
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- Selectors should not force seniors into retirement: Sourav - Sep 21, 2011
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- Indian cricket team leaves for West Indies - Jun 01, 2011
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- Tendulkar back; big chance for India's GenNext against Windies - Nov 05, 2011
- Seniors rested, Gambhir to lead ODI side against New Zealand - Nov 21, 2010
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Tags: consecutive defeat, dhoni, indian cricket, jan 28, learning experience, odi series, odis, rahul dravid, sachin tendulkar, selectors, skipper, speculations, team composition, team management, teammate, test ban, test debut, test series, v v s laxman, youngsters