I'm not scared of taking tough calls: Milind Rege

Mumbai's new chairman of selectors, Milind Rege on his road to revival for 39-time Ranji champs

The new senior selection committee, headed by Milind Rege, has quite a task hand as they sit down together on Monday for the first time to select the Mumbai team for the Ranji Trophy. The preparations have already been hampered by a delay in the appointment of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) by the newly elected Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).


Milind Rege

MiD DAY caught up with Rege, a former Mumbai captain, to learn of his plan of action. Excerpts from an
interview:

Has the delay in appointing the CIC affected things?
I don't think it has affected our plans. Only the Buchi Babu tournament is over. Our advice to MCA will be to send teams for all tournaments they possibly can, before the Ranji Trophy starts.
As far as players' preparations are concerned, our cricketers are training at the MCA's indoor facility at Bandra-Kurla Complex. So, preparations are on.

How much have Kanga League wash-outs hampered preparations?
It has hurt preparations a bit because playing the Kanga League is an advantage that Mumbai players have over others. It makes a lot of difference, as our cricketers get some crucial match practice in advance while other teams straightaway come into the tournament. Unfortunately, we've not been having a full Kanga season since last year.u00a0

What's your plan of action as chief selector?
Mumbai has got a rich tradition. It's a champion team. So, there is bound to be pressure to win the Ranji Trophy. Mumbai, as a team, is rock solid. The infrastructure is good; the facilities are excellent. As far as we are concerned (new selection committee), we have to give direction... spot talent, which is a massive task. We will take the help of the Talent Review Committee formed by the CIC. Selection is an ongoing process.

Do you see Mumbai losing its grip given last year's shock defeat to Rajasthan in the Ranji quarters?
Defeat against Rajasthan (a Plate Division team) was an aberration. It created sensation. Nobody had done it before to Mumbai. But I am looking at it as just a bad day in the office. Our batting failed on a good wicket and that's why we lost. That happens in a game. One shouldn't be unduly worried about that loss.
Recently, Mumbai beat Rajasthan in the Buchi Babu without its senior pros.
We have a good bench strength and there is no reason for despair. Mumbai is still a strong team because our fundamentals are good. We have a strong work culture. The boys work very hard. They are aware of Mumbai's reputation.

Some experts believe Wasim Jaffer should not be skipper. Would you hesitate in taking such tough calls?
I have never hesitated in taking tough calls. But the tough call has to be right. All angles and the future (of the player) has to be taken into account. Tough calls don't scare me. Selection is a very subjective issue. Everybody will have an opinion on it.

Naren Tamhane, my mentor, once told me never to discuss selection matters before the meeting because then you don't go into it with an open mind. I am blank for the first selection meeting on Monday. That is how I want to approach all my future meetings.

Do you see the passion to play for Mumbai going down, with many players moving to other lower rung teams?
Let's look at it the other way. Before player transfer rule came into force, there were many good cricketers, who never got a look in, and thus never played first-class cricket. So, the new rule has, in fact, helped Indian cricket because it has given those cricketers, waiting in the wings, an opportunity to play first-class cricket. So, it's not a cause for concern that cricketers are leaving Mumbai to play for others states or teams. There is stiff competition to get into the Mumbai team and that's why they go elsewhere.

Coming back to selection, how much will the views of the captain and coach matter?
Nine times out of 10 the captain's view is taken into account because ultimately he is going to play with that team. But if the captain's view is not in favour of the four selectors then obviously it will be turned down. However, the captain and the coach's view are always seriously considered. The selectors can only facilitate the best resources.

Mumbai used to contribute a lot of players to the Indian team. But of late that number has reduced. Will there be a turnaround on the front?
It's difficult because there is a lot of talent in other states as well and that does not go unnoticed anymore, thanks to theu00a0 new transfer rule. Players like Aakash Chopra and Hrishikesh Kanitkar have helped Rajasthan grow as a team. Other teams are catching up with Mumbai, and we have to be on our toes.

Will we see the same dominance of Mumbai again?
Mumbai has never lost its pride. Don't go by last season's aberration. Mumbai is still a feared team. It is still a dominant force. In the last 12 years, we have won the Ranji Trophy nine times.u00a0 So, where is the question of Mumbai going down? Give me a team, which has been as dominant as Mumbai in the last decade. Only Mumbai has done that.