Episode 38

Mar 20 2007

Another skipper gets his fingers burnt!

This will be the last time that the boys at the academy have to choose two of the four boys in the danger zone. But nothing could be tougher than doing it when the team is on a high and team spirits are soaring, and especially when the skipper is under fire!

This time Sukhvir found himself in the danger zone yet again, but with three newcomers—S Prabhu, Mohammad Abbas and Amiteshwar Singh. While the boys had the opportunity to plead their case, it still meant that two of them would have their phone lines blocked in the week before the finale, when the Cricket Star would be chosen.

Amiteshwar showed maturity beyond his years when he said he would accept being voted out as a punishment for not having raised his performance. But Sanjay Manjrekar felt Amiteshwar was being far too tough on himself for a small dip in performance. Ajay Jadeja put forth the case of the boys, saying that they were expected to make a mature decision when the selectors had rather unfairly elected some of the boys who have been consistent thus far.

But ultimately it was the boys who decided the fate of their four teammates. Amiteshwar seemed to be a favourite to have his phone lines blocked. The competition seemed to be stiff between Abbas and Sukhvir, until Prabhu was unexpectedly voted out. Prabhu was hurt by the sentiments of the team he led.

Where earlier Sanjay and Kapil Dev had commended the boys for their maturity, they had to restrain Prabhu from becoming too argumentative while expressing his angst. But little could be changed about the verdict. While Prabhu kept talking about his consistent performance as a wicket keeper, Dinesh Salunke pointed out that it was not the end of the road. There was still a match to play and prove himself.