"I'm sure the Indian team will be back to winning ways before next year's World Cup in the West Indies. It also means the Indian players will forget their failure in the tri-series in Malaysia and do well in the ICC Champions Trophy. But senior players in particular will be better off doing a bit of introspection as to what actually went wrong and why they didn't play up to expectations," says Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah.
"The problem is some retired players and the media always tend to make an issue out of nothing. Success and failure aren't uncommon in any sport. Why highlight prominently even the smallest of failures? You must hail good performances, too. We're disappointed in that the team failed to make it to the final in Malaysia, but we haven't lost heart. The BCCI is always with the players and ready to help them in any way," he told rediff.com during an informal chat in Rajkot last week.
Shah, who was accorded a warm welcome by the Saurashtra Cricket Association office-bearers and his well-wishers at Rajkot airport after returning from Mumbai following the BCCI's annual general meeting, where he was re-elected for a two-year term, was in a cheerful mood.
"I'm obviously happy to have been elected as the BCCI secretary again. But I'm not unaware of the heavy responsibilities associated with my job.
"India's batting line-up is very good, if not strong, and there is really nothing to worry about it. If it doesn't click sometimes, when needed the most, it's nothing but one of those things. But the team shouldn't depend on one or two players and it's important that all the leading batsmen contribute 50-60 runs," he said.
Asked why Sachin Tendulkar usually comes a cropper when it comes to the crunch, Shah said no one could raise any doubt about the little master's "ability and integrity". He emphasised that the Mumbai maestro has proved his genius more often than not and nothing much should be read into his failure on the odd occasion.
"Don't forget his immense contribution to the Indian team and the numerous matches he has won for us. He is human, after all.
"Yes, Rahul Dravid opening in one-day cricket could be debated. But I'm sure the team management is always in a better position to judge such matters," he added.
Talking about Saurashtra's young all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and stylish batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, he said a "bright future" beckons the two.
"Jadeja has already been included in one of the teams for the Challenger Series as he has proved his mettle as an all-rounder in junior cricket at international level, too. He is a talented left-arm spinner, more than useful batsman and an agile fielder. He has proved to be a very good one-day cricketer.
"Pujara is a very compact batsman. Dravid also has praised his batting and believes that he is a long-term prospect. He is more suited to Test cricket and hence he hasn't been selected for the Challenger Series.
"Both Jadeja and Pujara hold a lot of promise. It's heartening that there are exciting young talents like Jadeja, Pujara, Piyush Chawla and a few others. I've no doubt that they have a rosy future in Indian cricket."
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