Rungta backs Tendulkar's selection for ODIs

While eyebrows are raised over Tendulkar continuing his ODI career, Kishan Rungta, part of the panel that relieved the batting maestro from captaincy in 1998, feels India can only gain by his presence in the forthcoming Asia Cup. While many were surprised at Krishnamachari Srikkanth & Co including Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian team for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, starting March 11, former national selector Kishan Rungta told MiD DAY that he too would have picked the batting legend in the one-day team.

Rungta was known to be a no-nonsense selector. "Why would you not pick Tendulkar for ODIs?," asked Rungta, who was part of the selection panel from March to September 1998 which sacked Tendulkar as captain in 1998.
"I too would have picked him for the Asia Cup," said the 79-year-old former first-class cricketer from Rajasthan.
Rungta explained: "Him being in the team is an overall plus. Firstly, he is a good influence on the team. His rich experience is any day a great asset. Youngsters can be groomed well under his guidance.

"Secondly, with Sachin being in the team, there is relatively less responsibility on the youngsters to perform. Tendulkar can take that load of extra responsibility in the batting line-up. Young batters can play freely in such a scenario.

Playing mentor
"And lastly, just his sheer presence can demoralise the opponents. A lot of attention and planning would go into tackling Tendulkar. So, there are many positives I see in taking Tendulkar in the team," said Rungta. Calls of Tendulkar to retire from the one-day format have grown louder considering his dry run in the ongoing CB Series Down Under. Out of seven games, Tendulkar has managed to score only 143 runs with a highest score of 48 against Sri Lanka at Perth on February 8.

"It's a typical Indian mentality. Not many like a grandfather at home," he remarked. "Tendulkar is well aware of what he is doing. So, let us leave it to him when he wants to retire from the ODIs or from the game," Rungta concluded.

Tendulkar's CB Series dry run...
* 2 vs Australia, Melbourne
* 48 vs Sri Lanka, Perth
* 15 vs Sri Lanka, Adelaide
* 3 vs Australia, Brisbane
* 22 vs Sri Lanka, Brisbane
* 14 vs Australia, Sydney
* 39 vs Sri Lanka, Hobart

© MID DAY