Chappell's divide & rule policy cost team dear

If reports that suggest a row between senior players and coach Greg Chappell are true, then Indian cricket is in its most messy state. What I have been unable to fathom in the whole issue is the regular leaks to the media, especially if it is to do with a report from Chappell.

Everyone except the intended recipients seems to have the news much in advance.The 'seniors' have been in the news for quite the wrong reasons. Let us get this right. There are four seniors in the side: Sachin, Dravid, Kumble and Sourav. The first two will not stop youngsters from flowering in the side because there is no threat to their place in the team (at least there wasn't till the World Cup).

Kumble, for all I know, is not the kind of player who is going to sabotage a youngster's career. Cast your mind back to February 2001 when Kumble, braving an injured arm, was helping a young Harbhajan before the gruelling series against Australia. For a player who has always put team interest first, such things would not be on their agenda at all.

Sourav has just returned to the side and is least likely to have resorted to such tactics. So which senior player is Chappell talking about? Harbhajan and Sehwag are two experienced campaigners. If Chappell felt they are acting against the interests of the team, he should have pulled them up personally. As coach, he has to submit his report to the board.

If Chappell had indeed used 'friends' in the media to get the news out before it could be discussed in the appropriate forum, then that does not talk highly of his methods. Right from the moment he took over the reins of Indian cricket, he has resorted to a policy of divide and rule. It may have worked in the ouster of Sourav. Maybe, he is trying his hand again now.Another area where Chappell has been found wanting is in not understanding his role with Indian cricket. He is not a Messiah to clean the system. He is a paid professional whose job was to ensure the Indian team won matches. Sadly, that never happened.

There is no denying the fact the coach and captain must be given the side they want. The squad that played the Champions Trophy or the one that travelled to the World Cup was the best India had at that point of time and so there can be no excuses.

The damage has already been done. Things can get only better for Team Indian from this point on. Axing the captain or a majority of the team is only going to make things worse. Let sanity prevail and selection in the future be based on merit rather than emotion.

Chappell's failure is another reminder on how great players need not make it big as a coach. He is the one who harped on the 'perform or perish' mantra. The board must look at a new coach who will understand the Indian psyche better and keep the side as one fighting unit rather than let infighting grow to such an extent that it paralyses performance.