There is a cricket selector in every Indian. We may be no good at playing the sport, and may not even be able to clear the thirty-yard circle, but we Indians don’t miss a chance to criticise the shot-making ability of the likes of MS Dhoni or Yuvraj Singh. All of us also love the Indian Premier League. It has changed the way we follow our sport, and with each passing year, it has grown in our imagination. So, mixing these two passions of India, I have decided to please the cricket selector in me.
I am also trying to fulfill my ambition of being a franchise owner without spending a penny.
While writing this, I feel like I am sitting at the auction table and doing my numbers. In between, I called my cricketer and journalist friends to add some historical perspective to my selection. While doing this “dream job’, we assume we have deep pockets and resources like the Mumbai Indians.
This team consists of the players of the past who’ve never played the IPL, but would have lit up the league with their talent and versatility.
The name of the team is ‘Quintessential legends’.
Rules of the selection: We have followed the rules of the current IPL team selection. Only four foreign players in the playing eleven, and squad of 20 in total.
Pakistan Angle: Since it’s an exercise in fantasy, we have picked this team assuming that Indo-Pak relations have improved tremendously, and both the countries have resolved their issues. So, Pakistan players are allowed to play in the IPL and Atif Aslam or Strings will be one of the performers in the opening ceremony. Dil Ke Khush Rakhne ko Ghalib yeh Khayal acha hai.
Disclaimer: This is my team and no matter how hard I have tried to be neutral and unbiased, I am a bit biased towards my favorite cricketers. All the readers are welcome to ‘agree to disagree’ and encouraged to make their own teams and post it to us.
Special Thanks to: The Golden Generation of Indian Cricket. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman who participated in the IPL towards the fag end of their careers. They belonged to my generation and I loved them. But by playing in the Indian Premier League, they have helped me select a team from the past legends about whom I have read, watched old clips of, or heard their heroics from my seniors.
Playing XI
- Barry Richards (Overseas): Even the best bowlers in his time were scared of him as he used to rip them apart. We need an impact player like him, upfront.
- Krishnamachari Srikanth: Long before the cricket coined the term ‘Pinch hitter’, he was the first ‘Pinchi’ of cricket. Carefree and careless, over the top and uninhibited. Ideal for the shortest format.
- Mohammad Azharuddin: One of my favourite batsman. If you lose a wicket early, he can come in and keep the score board ticking with those ultra-flexible wrists. And if needed, he could play those big shots or anchor the innings with some real big hitters around him.
- Sir Isaac Vivian Richards (Overseas): Just imagine Viv walking in at the Chinnaswammy’s batting paradise, with his swagger and chewing gum. Bengaluru won’t know whom to support, Viv or RCB. And no matter how many of the opposition’s fielders are posted around mid-wicket or covers region, he will plant his feet across the pitch and at the last minute, he decides to hit over the cover or between mid-wicket and square leg region. And don’t forget, he will bowl those useful two overs of off-spin.
- Sir Gary Sobers - Captain (Overseas): Don’t need to write why. He is the greatest. Let’s move on.
- Kapil Dev: The most complete cricketer India has ever produced. Will win us matches with both, bat and ball.
- Salim Durani: The heartthrob of the 60 and the 70’s. Will walk to a standing ovation and hit sixes on demand. His brand value and dashing looks will get us a few sponsors as well.
- Faroukh Engineer (Wicketkeeper): A gutsy cricketer with flair and flamboyance. Much needed attributes for this format. And like Durani, he will help to get young fans to the stadium.
- Wasim Akram (Overseas): It will be hard to score against him with the new ball and the old one. Magician with the ball, and don’t forget those toe crushing yorkers. If needed, can hit some mighty sixes too. He has a double hundred in Test cricket.
- Manoj Prabhakar: Street smart cricketer who could bewilder a batsman like Javed Miandad, and would play all the tricks to win you games. Amazingly effective with new ball and well disguised slower one. I am sure he will master knuckle ball in no time.
- Rajinder Goel: The finest left-arm spinner who could never play for India, but was the highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket. Those who played with him would say that, ‘it was extremely difficult to score against him.’ (chawani rakh kar ball dalwa lo, you can keep the coin on the wicket and he would end up pitching every ball there.)
Extras
- Brian Lara: I know how tough it is to keep him out of the eleven. But just in case Richards isn’t available or has a hangover after those famous IPL parties.
- Ian Botham: On days that Sobers or Kapil Dev not available and want to take a day off.
- S Venkatraghavan: If opposition has few extra left handers and team wants options to replace Goel.
- Waqar Younis: Only Waqar can replace Wasim.
- Raman Lamba: Domestic stalwart, who would have loved these conditions and format. If Srikanth has form issues, he can come and replace him.
- Javagal Srinath: India’s first ‘genuine’ fast bowler and on wicket with some bounce and swing, he can come in place of Prabhakar.
- Gundappa Viswanath: The only man who can push Azhar. Azhar’s fielding gives him an edge. But only Vishy can match him. Shot to shot, skill to skill.
- Mark Waugh: What a talent. Can open the innings and score briskly, bowl off spin and best slip fielder ever. Period.
- Mohinder Amarnath: You need that kind of fighter in the dressing room. Will do anything and everything for the team.
Coach
MAK Pataudi: Needed someone with stature and integrity to manage a dressing room filled with so much talent and variety. Players would trust him and look up to him. Coaching at this level is all about man management. Haven’t we heard these lines so many times. Pataudi commands respect and is a natural leader of men.
Mentor
Don Bradman: Too big a name to play this format. There can’t be a bigger honour for him to mentor Sobers and Akram.
Profound Apologies
To those I couldn’t find a place for, my profound apologies to: CK Nayudu, Imran Khan, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Waugh, Mark Greatbatch, Dilip Vengsarkar, Vinod Kambli, EAS Prasanna, Clive Lloyd, Aravinda De Silva, Alan Donald, Kim Hughes, Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, Desmond Haynes, Malcom Marshall, Gordon Greenidge, Lala Amarnath, Vinoo Mankad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Mike Procter, Graeme Pollock
(Nishant Arora is an award-winning cricket journalist, and most recently, the media manager of the Indian Cricket Team.)
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