‘Only talent will help taking you to the top’
| Date :08-Apr-2019 |
Sports Reporter Raipur:
Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Surinder Khanna feels those questioning the selection process are hiding their own weaknesses. “I would suggest players should not complain in case they are not lucky enough to get selected in the team. They should keep trying and continue their hard work to remove the shortcomings. I would not hesitate to say that only weak people complain,” said the dashing middle order batsman of his era while talking to The Hitavada on the sideline of a talent hunt organised by MSG at Terminator Cricket Academy in Raipur on Sunday. Citing cricketers like Mumbai Indian’s West Indian bowler Alzzari Joseph and KXI Punjab spinner Varun Chakravarthy, Khanna said who knew these players before this IPL but they have proved themselves with the ball and now the whole world recognise them. Six wickets for 12 runs in 3.4 overs in a IPL match against DC Hyderabad made him hero overnight, said Khanna.
Similarly, spinner Varun is difficult to play and therefore he was paid a heavy amount by his franchisee. “One’s talent will bring him/her the success,” said Khanna, adding, he was here to monitor a talent hunt and identify the talents for the four-day selection trial to be held at Noida under MSG Scholarship programme. “As we all know, 48 talented players across the country will be given an opportunity to tour South Africa, England and New Zealand for a period of one month under the scholarship programme after Noida selection trial,” said Khanna.
“Unlike our days, parents today are coming forward to encourage their wards to take up sports as career which is a good sign. When our Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not shy away from being a ‘chowkidar’ and motivating others to be a ‘chowkidar’, why should we stay behind in saying our children to be a good player,” said Khanna. Speaking about the players making fake age certificates to get opportunity, Khanna said that age is just a number. He said that Sachin Tendulkar played International cricket when he was just 16. Therefore, I would suggest player not to limit themselves to age dispute. Some people raised objections over Tendulkar’s inclusion in the team and asked to allow him play domestic cricket first. But a few good people helped Tendulkar get in the team and now he is a ‘Bharat Ratna’, Khanna said. Another aim of this talent haut is to identify the talents from rural areas which remain untapped, concluded Khanna.
On current performance of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Khanna said that it seems Kohli-led team will remain a challenger. Surinder Khanna played for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. He made his debut in 1976. A century in each innings (111 and 128) in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at Bangalore in 1978–79 brought Surinder Khanna into the limelight. Khanna was a tower of strength to Delhi for many years and played a leading role in their successes in the late 70s and early 80s. Khanna was the designated wicket-keeper for India in the 1979 World Cup.