Test loss weighs more than ODI win: Bedi

By Sudhanshu Bisen
Nagpur, Spetember 6, 2014

SOMEONE offered him ‘gulab jamun’ but he politely refused. No wonder! For, anything sugar-coated lies well outside his domain.
His ailing knees may have made him limp a bit these days but nothing subjugates his exasperation when he takes the mike. Even the cool temperatures inside the air conditioned room had to vie hard with the ‘on-fire’ Bishen Singh Bedi on Saturday.
That Bedi doesn’t have a liking for the ‘doosra’ can only be justified once he speaks. He has no two opinions on anything.
In the ‘Meet The Press’ organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN), Bedi was at his ‘bindass’ best.
Whenever someone fired a question at him, he darted back with a couple of counter-questions.
In the process, Bedi unabashedly addressed the burning issues of Indian cricket, the ill-effects of Indian Premier League (IPL) and the levels of commitment. More than a question-answer session it was much of a introspection that left everybody ponder over the truth.
“Frankly tell me, after this year’s IPL season, how much time did the team get to practice in England before the Tests? There were hardly a few warm-up games leading to the five-match series. It all boils down to what I have been saying since long. IPL is the root-cause of the evil,” he said.
Bedi felt that winning the ODI series should not shove the Test losses under the carpet. “If you feel that by winning the ODIs we have got our revenge, then you are wrong. Test cricket is the ultimate cricket and nothing comes close to a Test win. The loss in Test matches weighs a lot more than the win in the ODIs.”
Bedi also blamed the players for not giving importance to domestic cricket. “How many international players take Ranji Trophy or Duleep Trophy seriously? You have to play domestic cricket day in and day out to sharpen your skills. There is no seriousness amongst the IPL players about domestic cricket.
“Every player wants to join the rat race by playing in the cash-rich league,” he said, before candidly saying, “And what more, there is a new trend this days of playing county cricket! Have you seen the state of county cricket these days! It’s horrible.”
The member of India’s famous spin quartet, Bedi blamed IPL for lack of genuine spinners in India. “The buck stops at the IPL. If you are paying crores to bowl just four overs, who would want to toil hard all day in domestic games. I am not saying that money is not important but you have to stop this rot. No spinner wants to take wickets. They just want to contain the batsman.
Bedi wasn’t shy of taking pot-shots at N Srinivasan and media as well. “I don’t understand how can someone be so greedy. He (Srinivasan) has been the BCCI President, now he is the ICC Chief and he again wants to remain BCCI President. He has taken this pure game to the court. Moreover the media isn’t writing enough about the wrongdoing he has done. We are all falling in the line. Someone has to bell the cat,” he added.
“There is no one in the board who is coming forward and addressing the issue. That’s why I always say, ‘Agar paisa bolta hai toh paisa chup bhi karata hai.’”
Before signing off, Bedi hailed former BCCI President Shashank Manohar for his dignity. “I truly respect what Mr Manohar has done for Indian cricket. He had so much dignity that he declined his post of BCCI chief after his successful tenure. He was selfless in his service and I respect it a lot. I am truly honoured to be in his city.”
Report courtesy: The Hitavada