Wasim Akram tells Mobile ESPN that Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja are wasting the golden opportunities in the West Indies.

By Soumitra Bose

Hot. Cool Cat. Master-blaster. Even India's future captain. These are a few attributes Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja had picked up in recent times. Named the under-23 Player of the Indian Premier League 2009, Rohit was touted as the ideal replacement in the Playing XI when an injured Virender Sehwag pulled out of the four-match ODI series in the West Indies. But only just.

The Caribbean form book has unfortunately told a depressing story of two of India's brightest prospects. Former Pakistan legend Wasim Akram feels these are worrying signs.

Failures are part of a cricketer's life. But when one invites them by throwing caution to the wind, it leaves one concerned. Purists judge talent not just by the number of runs scored, but also by the manner in which they come. Similarly, manner of dismissals tell a deeper story.

Playing the moving ball has been the biggest challenge to the best of batsmen. Rohit (4 and 0 at Kingston) had no clue to a seaming ball and that too on a flat Sabina Park wicket.

"He was all at sea. Rohit must acquire the skills to tackle a ball that leaves him. Once he gains that ability and demonstrates consistency, he will rank among the top," Akram says.

Is T20 cricket affecting the young batsmen?

"If you look at Rohit and Jadeja (0 and 7), yes, it is. It's no point slamming a 15-ball 30 and a seven-ball 15. It's no point taking a hat-trick of wickets when batsmen are in a marauding mood.

"T20 is fun cricket. Judge a player on it, you are dead. It's no point being a great talent. Talent comes and goes. When a youngster translates talent into performance, that's great. On their current form, both Rohit and Jadeja have miles to go," says Akram.

"I reckon, Rohit and Jadeja are wasting some great opportunities. At a time when there is no Sehwag, no Sachin, they should have stuck around and batted well. No selector will pick you on your T20 ability. Prove yourself in 50-50 first. That will give you the key to Test cricket, the final goal," Akram advises.

"The 101-run ninth-wicket partnership between skipper MS Dhoni and RP Singh was the only silver lining in the eight-wicket defeat at Kingston on Sunday," says Akram.

"From 82/8 to 188 all out, it was a great fight back. That shows the Indian team still had some fighting spirit left in it. If India have to challenge the experienced West Indian batting line-up, nothing less that 250-260 will suffice," Akram added.

Following India's comprehensive 20-run win in the first ODI, Akram had predicted Dhoni's boys were favourites. "Not any more," Akram says, adding: "West Indies have proved me wrong. They will be very confident going into the next two games, strong in their belief that India can be beaten even on flat wickets."

"It's fifty-fifty, now," Wasim says.

Even great men, play it safe.