Tuesday, October 23, 2007 by Gaurav Varma
That they beat the Australians becomes even more significant because of the manner in which they did it. Though there are no substitutes yet for the Big 3 the performances of Gambhir, Uthappa show that there is a second line which when given the opportunity will rise to the occasion. It is important that these players get the chance to play as often as possible at the international level.While Tendulkar is still scoring runs I'm not sure there is much to be gained in the long term if he continues to turn out in ODIs. His fitness is a major concern and if we want to keep Tendulkar fit and prolong his Test career it is very important that he gives way to younger guys in the ODI format. I have said this before and I still hold that the important thing isn't whether we have found a batsman good enough to replace the master. We probably never will. The question to be asked is whether we are willing to give a young kid a chance to become a Tendulkar 4-5 years down the line. It is in the heat of battle that champions will be made and not in the dusty pits of a Chepauk or Wankhede in the domestic arena.
