Enter killer instinct, exit quotas

It is possible that we are witnessing the erasure of some of the cliches associated with Indian cricket. The lack of a killer instinct - for so long a catch-all phrase used as excuse for defeats - is not heard any more. Both the Test series against Australia and the one-day series against England have shown that whatever instincts the Indian team might lack, killer instinct isn’t one of them.

But there is a wider, happier trend emerging. For years, what many considered a bane of Indian cricket was the “quota” system. Five selectors, one from each geographical region, each with his own compulsions, each with limited knowledge of players in the other zones, picked teams that paid a tribute to the quota system. Many players from weaker zones were accommodated in the national side merely to keep that section of the country happy. Often a better player from another zone was overlooked because there were already too many players from his zone in the team.

The cry to delink geography from cricket went unheeded. Appoint three selectors (regardless of their zones), said those unhappy with the system, and give them the job. But it never happened.

While watching the Bangalore match against England, someone pointed out that there was no home boy to cheer for - no Dravid, no Kumble, no Uthappa. But it went further. There was no player from the South in the Indian team. So why should this be a good sign, you ask?

It is a good sign because it means no player has been sacrificed for the quota. Globalisation in one sphere seems to have inspired true nationalism in another (although it would be more correct to call it professionalism). The best team, regardless of zonal affiliations - the dream of the objective cricket watcher has finally come to pass. India have played four matches against England without a single player from the south. S Badrinath was south’s last representative (and doubtless he will come into the side now) to have played. That was against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

What makes all this very significant, and cause for rejoicing is that the chairman of the selectors, Kris Srikkanth is from the south. The killer instinct and the quota instinct - the lack of one and the existence of the other - have been analysed threadbare. Now, gradually, Indian cricket seems to have ingested the one and eliminated the other.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly should take some of the credit for bringing about this twin revolution. He was big on killer instinct, and backed players regardless of where they came from. Success strengthened the captain’s hands - as Dhoni who reportedly had reservations about a recent selection or two - will discover with every passing success.