Yuvraj stays, Maharaj stays outside

Sourav Ganguly must have realised by this time that the door to Indian team does not open if he knocks with his reputation.
National selectors have kept Ganguly sulking again. Selection Committee chairman Kiran More was at his ambiguous best when asked about former Indian skipper’s future.
He wasn't willing to let us know if the selectors had discussed Ganguly's future and added, “Any cricketer can make a comeback and we haven't ruled anyone out.”
It is as candid as your weekly horoscope can get.
Please take note, Mr Bejan Daruwala.
It is not that More did not disrupt the Indian side at all. At Ahmedabad, after burning the midnight oil, More opened the door only to let in Mohammad Kaif and Vikram Rajveer Singh, the rookie fast bowler from Chandigarh.
Now Kaif has proven his form and fitness much after Ganguly did so, in the Duleep Trophy semifinal against West Zone. Kaif managed 54 in Central Zone’s first innings on a terrible track at Aurangabad.
Sunil Gavasakar in his column last week had talked about National Selectors’ double standards. Now as far as the comeback procedure is concerned I can’t spot any double standards by the More-led committee. Selectors have waited, and watched Kaif in action in Duleep Trophy.
If selectors have decided that Kaif’s half-century is better than the century Ganguly scored against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal, I can’t quarrel with them.
It’s their prerogative to decide between them. I’m sure, compared to Maharaja, Kaif’s athleticism would have persuaded the selectors to go for the Uttar Pradesh youngster.
And it’s quite obvious that Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell would like to have Kaif’s dynamism rather than contend with Ganguly’s arrogance.
Though India lost Ahmedbad match, the happenings there also went against Ganguly. A glorious innings from Gautam Gambhir makes comeback all the more difficult for Ganguly. When Sachin Tendulkar returns, Dravid must be keen to accommodate the flamboyant Delhi youngster in the middle order in one-dayers. With a fit Kaif back in the fold, skipper has more selection options.
The Ganguly Gang was building their case for a swap between a struggling Yuvraj and the Maharaj. But skipper Dravid has decided to back his players on their bad days. It indeed is an effective of dose Ganguly medicine, to assure the seniors that they will get justice in the New Order.
Now remember Dravid’s words, post-Ahmedabd. “We have a young batting lineup and we need to give them some time and chances.”
Even Venugopala Rao, who has lost his so-called protection, can take heart from Dravid’s words. But not for the Maharaj. Not certainly.