The BCCI is in a dilemma. Four of its stalwarts, the mainstays in their middle order are getting old. Rahul Dravid, Sauruv Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have been the backbone of the Indian batting lineup for most of the last decade. They have built together innings of utter beauty and supremacy. The great quartet, sadly, does not have a long time left. Age is catching up and dashers like Tendulkar have had to change the nature of their game.
The dilemma is how to pass through this transitional phase without inviting a gaping hole in the batting line up. The idea is always to introduce younger talent while some older hands are their to guide him. I don't believe all four will leave at the same time but its going to happen in a quicker succession than many believe.
Out of the four, VVS Laxman is the odd one out as he is not in line for selection in the ODI or Twenty20 squads. The current form of Ganguly makes him an asset in the middle order. Rahul Dravid is the Captain and we do not want to start riots in India by talking about dropping Tendulkar!
The quartet will not be part of the Twenty20 World Cup as the three eligible players have opted out. Their ODI places intact, its a good move to let the youngsters have a field day. But will this prove the end of the line for VVS Laxman. Good performances from any one of the youngsters will bring him in contention for selection in the ODI and the Test team. One such youngster sitting in line is Yuvraj Singh. He is a tested batsman and has had to sit for Laxman.
We will have to see if the rise of a youngster in Twenty20 World Cup will mean the downfall of the famed quartet.
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