Current pair should close the opening debate

First, an explanatory note about the large number of players who8217;ve been selected for the two first-class matches against the visiting ...

First, an explanatory note about the large number of players who8217;ve been selected for the two first-class matches against the visiting Kiwis. The selectors had to name three separate teams without the national stars: one each for the India A and the Board President8217;s XI teams and a third for the Emerging Trophy tri-series in Sri Lanka.

The large number of Ranji stars inducted includes nine openers counting Aakash Chopra twice, since he8217;s in both teams, and Deep Dasgupta. Even given the fact that the Test side faces an opening problem, that may be going a bit too far.

Is the search for a Test opener a real national crisis or just a case of unwanted paranoia?

Let8217;s first check the record of current Test openers Sanjay Bangar and Virender Sehwag. With their contrasting styles, they could make the ideal pairing; Bangar to drop anchor and Sehwag to get the quick runs.

Excluding the tour of New Zealand last winter 8212; where Sehwag was the only one to fare well 8212; Bangar has opened in seven innings. The average number of balls he8217;s faced is 140. That means his 8216;survival average8217; is an impressive 23 overs. Two long innings, possible on Indian pitches, would build up his confidence ahead of the Australia tour.

Though Sehwag has made public his intentions of dropping down the order, his aggressive nature can be a big asset as a opener specially in Australia. Since it8217;s not likely that any opener will survive long Down Under, better to have someone who can score a few runs while he8217;s out there.

If Sehwag has his way with the team management and drops down the order, the think-tank may even turn to Yuvraj Singh, who too can play the same role. The left-handed one-day specialist, who matured as a batsmen during the World Cup, has announced his intentions of opening the innings.

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There8217;s nothing wrong in testing Akash Chopra, Shiv Sundar Das, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Gautam Gambhir, Connor Williams and Wasim Jaffer in the side games but a hasty decision should be avoided. A mere half-century should not be enough for them to graduate.

The second problem India face is behind the stumps. An objective view of Parthiv Patel 8212; as an international player, not a child prodigy 8212; shows that, barring a century in England for India A, his batting hasn8217;t exactly set the stands alight. His work behind the stumps has been almost flawless but questions about his batting persist.

That could explain the logic of recalling Deep Dasgupta, the 8216;8216;most-maligned national wicket-keeper ever8217;8217;. With two Test hundreds 8212; in South Africa and at home against England 8212; Dasgupta always fitted half the role of the wicket-keeping batsman. The problem has been his work behind the stumps.

But the Bengal 8217;keeper has recently asserted that he8217;s improved and his county stint 8212; he played in the minor leagues 8212; where he kept to swing bowlers by standing up has seen him iron his flaws.

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Worth a look-in, considering the Indian team8217;s desperation. If his glovework passes the test, we get a keeper who can8217;t just bat but can open too. That makes Sehwag happy and gives skipper Saurav Ganguly the option of drafting in an extra bowler or batsman.

New York, New York!

Among the three teams 8211; India A, Board President8217;s XI and Emerging Trophy side 8211; the selectors have named seven openers. Checking out the credentials of those who are challenging the regular Test openers Virender Sehwag and Sanjay Bangar.

8226; Shiv Sunder Das: Was dropped after the West Indies tour last year. But has scored heavily for India A. Only a big knock will see him get a recall.
8226; Sadagoppan Ramesh: Despite a decent domestic season he was not considered for India A, Challenger and Irani Cups. A tour game against the Kiwis will be vital for a man with a Test average of 37.97
8226; Wasim Jaffer: Impressed during India A tour to England but failed to consolidate in the Irani Cup. Has the technique to play the short ball but an averages of 20.07 from his seven Tests hasn8217;t helped his cause.
8226; Deep Dasgupta: Two Test tons as an opener flowed by obscurity because of his sketchy glovework behind the stumps. After getting dropped a year back he gets another chance.
8226; Akash Chopra: Missed Challenger and Irani Cup due to injury. Stood out during India A tour to Sri Lanka and West Indies. Features in both the side games so will get enough opportunity to prove his worth.
8226; Connor Williams: The surprise inclusion considering his modest domestic performance. Despite being named in the Test squad he has never made it to the final XI. With Ramesh and Chopra in the India A squad, Williams might be doing the drinks duty again.
8226; Gautam Gambhir: Had a highly successful domestic season and India A tour. Made his ODI debut this year. Emerging Trophy will see him play more one-dayers. That means no chance to prove himself as a Test opener.
8212; Shamya Dasgupta

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More