Remember the new chairman of the national selection committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth as the team ambassador for the Dhoni-led team in the Indian Premier League?

He was nothing short of an entertainer, making brash statements about his team’s prospects. Maybe he was paid handsomely to do this. Nowadays former players are willing to do just about anything if the money is good, and especially if most of it is paid under the table.

Srikkanth’s IPL image did not impress those who want their former and present cricketers to be dignified. It is said, however, that Srikkanth’s franks ways have a rustic appeal to his fans, especially in Tamil Nadu, where he is popular.

Now, in his new position, the expectations would be high. And he would have live up to these. Can he?

Though he has captained India, it is known that he got the prize position by default. There was an insurrection by senior players and the then chairman of the selection committee, Raj Singh Dungarpur, decided to show them where they got off and Srikkanth was the beneficiary.

This time too he has benefited because it was Karnataka’s turn to have the national selector from the South Zone. In the cricket board’s equations there are only two southern associations that are in favour at the moment, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad. Karnataka is virtually debarred because the cricket board cannot stand former Test cricketer, Brijesh Patel, who is the secretary. So the state has to suffer. The saving grace is: Anil Kumble is the Indian Test captain. It remains to be seen for how long? Dhoni might find himself in the hot seat sooner than he thinks, knowing Srikkanth’s knack for doing what he is told by the bosses.

That’s how he has reached where he is. It helps to be as the old gramophone records used to advertise – His Master’s Voice!