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| March 17, 2007 | Saturday | Safar 27, 1428 |
Pen-sketches of India squad
BRIDGETOWN, March 16: Pen-pix of India's World Cup squad: Rahul Dravid (RHB/WK/captain). Age: 34. ODI appearances: 310. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Singapore, April 3, 1996. Once considered unsuited for one-day cricket because of his slow batting, he has done remarkably well to become only the sixth batsman in history to score 10,000 runs in the shorter version of the game.
Career: 10044 runs (ave 40.01), HS 153, 12 100s, 77 50s, 183 catches and 14 stumpings, 4 wkts (ave 42.50), BB 2-43.
Sachin Tendulkar (RHB/RM/LB/OB). Age: 33. ODI appearances: 381. Debut: v Pakistan, Gujranwala, Dec 18, 1989. The most successful batsman in one-day history is desperate to win the World Cup for India in his fifth, and possibly last, appearance in cricket's showpiece event. Once again, he holds the key to India's fortunes.
Career: 14783 runs (ave 44.12), HS 186*, 41 100s, 76 50s, 115 catches, 147 wkts (ave 44.02), BB 5-32, 4w 7.
Ajit Agarkar (RHB/RFM). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 180. Debut: v Australia, Kochi, April 1, 1998. He promised much as the fastest to 50 one-day wickets in history but was not consistent enough with bat and ball to hold a permanent place. He returns now as India's best bowler at the death.
Career: 1240 runs (ave 15.30), HS 95, 3 50s, 49 catches, 272 wkts (ave 27.55), BB 6-42, 4w 11.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (RHB/WK). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 66. Debut: v Bangladesh, Chittagong, Dec 23, 2004. The swashbuckling batsman is one of the better lower order hitters in the game and also has the dual role of keeping wickets. There is not a dull moment when he is around.
Career: 1958 runs (ave 46.61), HS 183*, 2 100s, 12 50s, 73 dismissals (61 catches and 12 stumpings).
Saurav Ganguly (LHB/RM). Age: 34. ODI appearances: 286. Debut: v West Indies, Brisbane, Jan 11, 1992. The Greg Chappell saga is all but forgotten as he returns fitter and hungrier for runs. His vast experience will benefit India with both bat and ball, so will his advice as a former captain who led India into the World Cup final in 2003.
Career: 10470 runs (ave 41.22), HS 183, 22 100s, 64 50s, 98 catches, 94 wkts (ave 37.37), BB 5-16, 4w 3.
Harbhajan Singh (RHB/OB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 147. Debut: v New Zealand, Sharjah, April 17, 1998. He is expected to be the first-choice spinner at the World Cup ahead of Anil Kumble because he is younger and fitter and bowls a mean spell.
Career: 687 runs (ave 12.72), HS 46, 41 catches, 170 wkts (ave 31.96), BB 5-31, 4w 4.
Dinesh Karthik (RHB/WK). Age: 21. ODI appearances: 13. Debut: v England, Lord's, Sept 5, 2004. The reserve wicket-keeper was considered to be good enough with the bat to take a World Cup spot ahead of the proven Vangipurappu Laxman. Faces a tough task to justify his selection.
Career: 150 runs (ave 18.75), HS 63, 1 50, 12 dismissals (11 catches and 1 stumping).
Zaheer Khan (RHB/LFM). Age: 28. ODI appearances: 117. Debut: v Kenya, Nairobi, Oct 3, 2000. Like Ganguly, he has made a startling comeback this season to become the lynchpin of India's bowling at the World Cup. A stint with Worcestershire last season made him a better bowler.Career: 490 runs (ave 13.61), Hs 34*, 26 catches, 172 wkts (ave 27.53), BB 5-42, 4w 7.
Anil Kumble (RHB/LB). Age: 36. ODI appearances: 270. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, April 25, 1990. India's most successful bowler in both Test and one-day cricket, he wants to prove that limited-overs matches are not only for the young.
Career: 938 runs (ave 10.53), HS 26, 85 catches, 334 wkts (ave 31.05), BB 6-12, 4w 10.
Munaf Patel (RHB/RFM). Age: 23. ODI appearances: 17. Debut: v England, Goa, April 3, 2006. Once a tearaway who sprayed the ball around, he learnt the benefits of keeping a good line and length to emerge a frontline India bowler. Needs to stay injury-free to keep India's hopes alive.
Career: 6 runs (ave 3.00), HS 2*, 1 catch, 22 wkts (ave 28.68), BB 4-49, 4w 1.
Irfan Pathan (LHB/LFM). Age: 22. ODI appearances: 73. Debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Jan 9, 2004. Once the blue-eyed boy of coach Greg Chappell, he fell out of favour after a poor run with both bat and ball, only to return for the World Cup in the absence of an able replacement.
Career: 1006 runs (ave 25.15), HS 83, 5 50s, 12 catches, 115 wkts (ave 25.91), BB 5-27, 4w 4.
Virender Sehwag (RHB/OB). Age: 28. ODI appearances: 167. Debut: v Pakistan, Mohali, April 1, 1999. Like Pathan, he was sacked from the team after continued poor form and made it to the World Cup only because the captain felt the hard-hitting batsman was too invaluable to be kept at home.
Career: 4833 runs (ave 31.18), HS 130, 7 100s, 24 50s, 69 catches, 72 wkts (ave 40.90), BB 3-25.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (RHB/RFM). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 27. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Nagpur, Oct 25, 2005. The robust seamer is regarded by many as a better Test match bowler, but has lately learnt the value of sacrificing pace for accuracy. Is expected to lend firepower to the Indian attack.
Career: 7 runs (ave 1.40), HS 3, 3 catches, 35 wkts (ave 36.11), BB 6-55, 4w 2.
Robin Uthappa (RHB). Age: 21. ODI appearances: 8. Debut: v England, Indore, April 15, 2006. An opener who bats with the aim to hit every ball out of the ground. May not always succeed but India think he is a risk worth taking.
Career: 255 runs (ave 36.42), HS 86, 3 50s, 7 catches.
Yuvraj Singh (LHB/SLA). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 163. Debut: v Kenya, Nairobi, Oct 3, 2000. All India heaved a sigh of relief when he returned to form in the recent Sri Lanka series after battling knee and back injuries. His aggressive batting and agile fielding make him a World Cup certainty.
Career: 4412 runs (ave 35.29), HS 139, 7 100s, 26 50s, 54 catches, 42 wkts (ave 37.85), BB 4-6, 4w 1.—AFP
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