If I wore a hat, I’d doff it for the Colonel.

I don’t remember when the last time it was we had such on outspoken Chairman of Selectors who not only spoke his mind (like most of his predecessors) but also managed to speak sense. Shri Vengsarkar went even one further and even managed to walk the talk!

They wise men dropped Veeru and what a voice choice it has been. They even went and got the Maharaj back - for once I have nothing to say but ‘Jolly good show’ to the Bong. No one, not even Nagma can begrudge his place back in the final XI. I watched an interview of him after the final test I think and what came across more than anything was how much he has mellowed. Sitting at home and making ads that say ‘Dada ka baat sunoge na’ has made him lose the arrogance and he comes across as focussed with only one thing on his mind - make runs!

No Veeru can only mean one thing - The MumbaiDada and the MaharajDada are going to open and I hope, for old times sake, they click like they used to. A boom here and a bang there, one for the old times and we could very well be looking at our opening bats for the World Cup. I feel a bit bad for young Robin who will follow the two Batmen. he deserves more than just a look-in and I hope he gets one too.

More drama shall unfold over the next couple of weeks. Watch this space.

And on another note, yours truly had the distinct pleasure of dining with young V R V Singh a couple of nights ago. That boy is ALL WRONG to be a fast bowler - he’s shy, he’s sweet and he’s extremely soft-spoken! I was all set to teach him to be mean and nasty before I realised he was 6′4′’ and very muscular!

Fun Fun Fun. More later!