More competition is the key

These are good times to be a first-class cricketer in India. More money has been pumped in, remuneration has increased and, at last, the games, even if only some, are being televised. But what about the state of the game itself? Has it improved?

Recently, when asked if the out-of-form Suresh Raina wouldn't be better served if he spent a couple of years in domestic cricket, a senior member of the Indian team had replied with a question: "For what? To rot?"

In Mysore as Haryana's batting deflated like cheap party balloons on the fourth morning, Ashwani Kumar, the coach, had his own answers to that question. "To be competitive at this level, you need to have faced some competition before. I am sorry but my team's performance was not up to the Elite standard. Look ... we are the Plate champions and the boys are really proud to perform for their state. I am sure they will adjust to the tougher competition at this rung and will up their own game in the matches to come."

Kumar goes on to suggest what he thinks can lead to better peformance. "Reduce the money in the Plate stage," he asserts. "I don't want to take any names, but there are teams in the Plate group who seem to be satisfied in just remaining in that stage. They don't want to cope up with the pressure of playing at higher level. As a result the quality of domestic cricket suffers. I would like to see gradation in remuneration between Plate and Elite. Plate group teams should be paid less and only then there would be a motivation to compete and move up to Elite."

Now, the background may be bleak but there are at least two young players in his team that Kumar would be proud of. Joginder Sharma, the allrounder, and Mahesh Rawat, both, want to play for India. Joginder is in the midst of a great run with 18 wickets in two matches. As for Rawat, he has not only been very good behind the stumps - he flew full-length to his right to take a blinder in the first innings and was generally pretty solid - but very prolific with the bat as well.

"Joginder is a great lad. He has a great attitude and is a perfect example for the rest of the guys. He is a fitness freak and guides the juniors in the team. Sharir mey jaan hai toh tej dal sakthe hain. (If there is energy in the body, then you can bowl fast) And he has the skills. He can swing both ways with the new ball and gets reverse swing with the old ball," Kumar explains.

There is, however, the fear that Joginder is being overused. Kumar agrees. "Although he has never complained about the work load, he is our bowling machine! But the fear is there and that's why we introduced Sanjay Bhadwar, a mediumpacer, to support him," he says. Joginder himself sees it differently. "I am ready to do anything that my management wants," Joginder told Cricinfo. "I am very happy with my form. The wickets are coming and I also got runs in the Duleep Trophy. I am yet to contribute [with the bat] in the Ranji Trophy and I am confident it will happen soon."

Joginder doesn't believe in having role models and idols. "I don't like to copy. I just concentrate on my own game, work on my strengths and weakness and try to improve. I am my own role model." That doesn't mean he is averse to seeking advice. He had a chat with Venkatesh Prasad, former Test bowler and Karnataka's coach, who told him keep performing and remain patient.

He is 24 years old and in India the use-by-date, so to speak, is 26. Over the last five years, 22 players under the age of 25 have made their international debut for India. Only seven players over 25 have made their debut over the same period. Joginder scoffs at the stat. "If I remain fit and keep taking wickets, there is nothing to worry. I am confident that my efforts will be recognised. I am working hard to come back into the national team," he adds, "My future is in my own hands." You can't argue with that.