Rex Clementine in Mohali

In 1984, soon after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi authorized ‘Operation Blue Star’ to remove militant Sikhs from the Golden Temple here in Punjab that resulted in several Sikh deaths, Indian intelligence services pulled out Sikh guards from her security detail fearing her safety. However, ‘the Iron Lady’ one of the most respected political figures in the world, reinstated her Sikh bodyguards as she trusted them. Six months later, she paid a heavy price for the oversight as the Sikh guards gunned her down at her own residence.  In cricket too, like in life, you pay heavy prices for your mistakes.

Sri Lanka came to India with the hope of winning their maiden Tests match in this country to end a 40 year barren period. But how costly was picking fast bowler Lahiru Kumara for the first Test here in Mohali? After sending down just ten overs, Kumara returned to the pavilion and was taken for an MRI scan. The team is suspecting a hamstring tear and Kumara is likely to be ruled out of the series.

The members of the national selection panel are supposed to do their homework in picking players to represent the country. Sadly, they have done little research in selecting Kumara and as a result Sri Lanka are playing catch up on day one of the series. Excellent way to start a campaign in our efforts to end a Test win drought in India.

Kumara broke down with a hamstring injury at Pallekele in May last year during the Bangladesh Test match. Since then, he has not played even a single First Class match to prove his fitness and straight he has been brought into a play a Test match again. This is a clear indication that little thought has been put in by those making vital decisions on behalf of our cricket. The selectors’ terms are ending soon and we desperately need fresh thinking and smart thinkers.

Kumara has been barely Test match fit. Every year he breaks down in middle of a Tests match and the team has suffered severe setbacks as their bowling strength has been depleted. Kumara broke down during the Gabba Test in 2019, then again in Centurion the following year as he walked off middle of a Test match. The hat-trick was completed in 2021 at Pallekele. As if that wasn’t enough, he has done it in a fourth year in row. How come they didn’t know this? Mysterious are the ways of our selectors.

Someone needs to be held accountable for picking Kumara to play a Test match without even playing a single First Class game. In other parts of the world, players who are injured have to play considerable amount of First Class cricket or ‘A’ team cricket before returning to Test cricket. But in Sri Lanka we are treating Lahiru Kumara like Richard Hadlee. It’s as if he’s’ an indispensable member of the team.

The selectors have been groping in dark. There are many factors that have resulted in the national cricket team going through a tough phase in recent years. Selection blunders are certainly one of them.