The ‘other’ men in blue

They may be the second tier of national cricket, but but that does not stop them from playing a first class game each time they take to the field. With a host of young Karnataka players in it and with a resounding victory against Australia A and South Africa A in the Triangular Series, the India A Team which is coached by city legend Rahul Dravid is on everyone’s minds now. We take a look at how young city folk are shifting their attention to the ‘other’ men in Indian blue, especially following their win over Bangladesh A yesterday.

With no fewer than eight players from Karnataka in its current squad the team itself is a mirror to the state’s diverse cricket talent. Not only are batsmen like Robin Uthappa well known by now, but the likes of Abhimanyu Mithun have made themselves known through frequent bursts into international cricket. For 15 year old city high schooler Surya Gupta, a right handed batsman looking to make it as a cricketer, they provide inspiration. He says, “Young players have always had their eyes on the under 19 and A teams. But thanks to the sharpness of this particular team, we spend more time studying their play now and not just that of the national team.”

It is also the particular flamboyance of batsmen like KL Rahul and all-rounder Shreyas Gopal that have turned the spotlight since the IPL. Cricket fan and graphic designer Anand Cherian says, “I certainly think that if more of us divert our attention to the young team, then they will be motivated to play better. That is something that has already happened with Dravid as the coach. Cricket is largely about the unfashionable task of closely watching talent and not just commenting on Anushka Sharma’s effect on Indian Test match outcomes.”

For many of us, the final drawing power of the India A lie in the coach appointment. Not only is Dravid from the city, he is a worthy legend at the helm of great talent. City cricket analyst Dipankar Lahiri says, “That Rahul Dravid, the man in charge of India A, is known to be in direct talks with Ravi Shastri, the man in charge of India, telling him which players are ready for the big stage, is a sign of good health of the system. Some 25 years ago, Shastri had himself similarly recommended Azhar to the senior team.”