Mongia shattered on being sacked

“Apparently some of the team members were aware of my situation in the morning itself. I had just finished my lunch and was putting away the plate when Raju (Venkatpathy Raju) told me I was not in the squad. I was shattered. For, to the best of my knowledge, I had done nothing to deserve this treatment,” said Mongia, trying desperately to come to terms with his omission.

Mongia’s omission defies logic. He is, after all, the best wicket-keeper in the country. None, including Karim, is a patch on him. And the reason given is that Karim is a better batsman. Fact, however, is that Mongia has not done all that badly even in this department. In the one-day series against West Indies in West Indies during April and May, Mongia played only in the first one-dayer before an injury laid him low. He made a highly combative 29 out of a team total of 179.

Karim, who replaced Mongia, scored 6 and 29 not out in the two innings he played. This should demolish any theory about inferior batting!

It is unfortunate that the selectors have sought to compromise with the wicket-keeper’s slot. They have asked a bits-and-pieces cricketer to chip in for a specialist. Mongia who, on parting this evening promised “I will be back”, probably knows the score just as well.