Is this the end of the RSS era?

Most Net savvy folks would immediately associate RSS with "really simple syndication." RSS is nothing but Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content, such as news, etc. In fact, there are some RSS feeds on this blog too. Those inclined politically, may associate RSS with the political party! Sorry!!

I am not talking about these particular RSS. I am talking about the one and only RSS as far as I am concerned -- Rahul-Sachin-Sourav.

The famous RSS, as I'd like to call them, of India cricket -- Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly -- by deciding NOT to participate in the forthcoming 20:20 World Cup Cricket tournament in South Africa this September, have probably signaled the beginning of the end of this famous era of Indian cricket.

Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly -- the Three Kings, the three premier batsmen of Indian cricket -- by deciding to skip the forthcomig 20:20 tourney have paved the way for a whole lot of youngsters to vie for positions in the team. Is that going to be easy? Can the youngsters fill in their big boots?

Yes, team rebuilding is an ongoing process. However, finding replacements for giants is going to be no walk in the park. Just look at the sheer stats of the famous RSS: (M-Inn-No-Runs-Ave). Yes, all three are playing in the series vs. England, and will go on for some more years. An Indian team without the three would look strange!

RAHUL DRAVID

Tests 109-185-22-9366-57.46

ODIs 319-295-38-10301-40.08

SACHIN TENDULKAR

Tests 137-220-23-10922-55.44

ODIs 388-378-37-15051-44.13

SOURAV GANGULY

Tests 93-149-13-5563-40.90

ODIs 295-285-23-10898-41.59

Together, RSS have a mammoth 1,0002 ODIs and 339 Tests behind them, not to speak of 36,250 runs in ODIs and another 25,851 runs in Test matches! Rahul is the curent skipper, Sourav, India's most successful skipper, and Sachin, a former captain and proably the most prolific batsman along with Brian Lara, post Sir Don Bradman.

Do we have the kind of bench stregth to replace the RSS? Of the current lot, only Yuvraj is prince-in-waiting, as is Dhoni. The others are merely coming up. Sehwag's been in and out of form, and lately, the team. Laxman would probably be following the RSS soon, into retirement, and Karthick's just blossoming, while Jaffer, Gambhir, Kaif, etc., are still not quite there yet. However, they all have the potential to be among the very best!

I remember when Australia lost a whole lot of great players in the early Eighties -- Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh -- all left together. Doug Walters left around the same time as well. Kim Hughes had the tough task of rebuilding the team. Only with the elevation of Allan Border as captain, along with players such as Dean Jones, David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Steve Waugh, Simon O'Donnell, Craig McDermott, Bruce Reid, Greg Matthews, Merv Hughes, Peter Taylor, etc., in tow, Australian cricket revived. And, how!

So, are the Indian probables for the 20:20 going to deliver a cup winning team? Too early to say! India has not really been up there with some other nations, as far as 20:20 cricket is concerned. However, there's nothing that can stop them from winning it. It's all about believing in yourself and your abilities.

Here lies a good opportunity for newcomers like Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, etc., as also Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, Arjun Yadav, the younger Srikkanth, etc. to carve a niche for themselves. They have a tough act to follow!