E-Paper
Another opportunity wasted by Rohan
There are no answers to whether Gavaskar's inclusion is a result of his surname. His domestic record is good -- though not in the exceptional category, writes Avirook Sen.
The gentleman of Indian descent had just gone down to get a pint of lager for himself at Edgbaston. When he came back, Bash Khan, the Pakistani from Coventry, told him: "Another one down, while you were away." India had just lost their sixth wicket. The Indian looked up, took a sip of his beer, and said: "Ah, it's only Gavaskar, you know."
Two decades ago, he'd have probably been at the receiving end of at least a few stares from the other Indians in the crowd. Not on Sunday, 19 September 2004. Not when it's this Gavaskar.
The beer-drinker then asked me: "What's the story? Is he getting a lot of runs in domestic cricket?"
I hemmed and hawed. And then, from the side, Bash helped out: "In our part of the world it isn't what you know (to play at this level, for instance), it's who you know." Then he nudged me with a "Inniit?" (that's 'isn't it').
There are no clear answers to whether this Gavaskar's inclusion in the Indian side is a result of his surname. His domestic record is good -- though not in the exceptional category. And there are a few compelling arguments against his inclusion.
