India packs many guns

Australia’s Channel Nine were filming a documentary on him at the MIG Club, Bandra ground. After the shoot Tendulkar decided to bat left-handed, it was learnt. He stunned everyone with an array of shots that wouldhave made school chum Vinod Kambli proud. And that too against the club’s bowlers, some of whom possess first-class experience.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy champions’ miseries don’t end with Sachin Tendulkar. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble is another top draw that the Indians’ relate most of their recent successes against quality opposition. Together, the dynamite duo pack too many guns to ambush the hopes of the fledgling opposition.

Tendulkar and Kumble notwithstanding there are the likes of Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad who would be craving to soar their performance graphs. Not to speak of Saba Karim, Paras Mhambrey returning to the Indian team after two-years and left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni, who would be trying to lodge themselves in the selectors’ memory with some superlative efforts.

Bangladesh’s aim to better upon their five-wicket loss to India in the tri-series opener received a setback last evening when they lost to Kenya. Yesterday’s loss haslanded them at the bottom of the standings with a net run-rate of -0.27. India (+0.36) lead the standings followed by Kenya (+0.02). The net-run rate would be uppermost on the Bangladeshi minds when they take the field on the morrow.

Though India start overwhelming pre-match favourites don’t discount the David vs Goliath and West Indies vs Kenya duels before jumping to conclusions.

The teams

India (from): Ajay Jadeja (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rahul Dravid, Venkata Sai Laxman, Robin Singh, Saba Karim (wicket-keeper), Anil Kumble, Paras Mhambrey, Venkatesh Prasad, Nilesh Kulkarni, Nikhil Chopra, Harbhajan Singh and Jyoti Yadav. Coach: Anshuman Gaekwad.

Bangladesh (from): Mohammed Akram Khan (captain), Aminul Islam, Athar Ali Khan, Sanwar Hussain, Minhazul Abedin, Khaled Mahmud, Khaled Mashud, Hasibul Hussain, Mohammed Rafique, Morshed Ali Khan, Anisur Rahman, Maharsh Hossain, Enamul Haque and Naimur Rahman. Coach: Gordon Greenidge.

Umpires: B KSadashiv and R T Ramachandran (both India).

Third umpire: Vineet Gupte (India).

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Hours of play: 1600 hrs to 1930 hrs; 2010 to 2340 hrs.