Indian colts rear up for Sri Lankan `Test’ Derby

The Indians are led by Reetinder Singh Sodhi, who was distinctly unfortunate to be left out of the 30 probables for the forthcoming World Cup in England.

The Indian lads have every reason to be upbeat following the visitors’ nine-wicket loss in their tour opener two days ago. The Lankans, in that match, were shot out for a humiliating 58 all out in their first innings.

However, Indian coach Krishnamachari Srikanth was uncharacteristically cautious: “Rather than commenting on India’s chances, it would be more apt to say that we are a balanced team. The boys did well in the three-dayer, but a `Test’ is a different game altogether.”

Srikanth’s opposite number, CarltonBernadus, felt the defeat was a blessing in disguise. “It has helped the boys bond together as a team.”

Srikanth, who has been associated with the under-19 and India A teams over the past two years, hopes that the present series may see a few players surface who could be good enough to get into the senior team.

“Even if such matches are able to contribute one player to the senior team, I would term the concept successful,” he said.

Besides, Sodhi, Mohammed Kaif, Rajesh Pawar, Neeraj Patel, Yuvraj Singh, Wrichik Majumdar, Anshu Jain, Venugopal Rao all have more first-class exposure than their rivals. The likes of Sodhi and Kaif would be looking forward to enhance their credentials after being on the fringes of selection to the senior team in the recent past.

A similar situation is in store for Lankan skipper Upeka Fernando, who is among the probables for the World Cup to be held in England. The 19-year-old opener is from the Sinhalese Sports Club, which boasts of an array of internationalsincluding Arjuna Ranatunga.

Fernando has an exciting lot at his disposal which includes leg-spinner Malinga Bandara, the only Test player to feature in the match, Chamara Silva touted as a replacement for Roshan Mahanama and MRF Pace Foundation pupils, left-arm Ruwan Sujeewa de Silva and Prabath Nissanka.

Though both teams would be announcing their final 11 tomorrow, the Indians have left out Mritunjay Tripathi, who had impressed in the three-dayer claiming a five-wicket haul, and Rajat Bhatia from the 12.

“The selectors probably felt that left-arm medium-pacer Salab Srivastav would offer variety in the attack,” reasoned Srikanth on Tripathi’s exclusion. The Lankans have omitted middle-order batsman Nalin Wijesinghe, left-hand opener Jerome Fernando and medium-pacer Sathpath Kalum for the match.

Teams (from)

India: Reetinder Singh Sodhi (captain), Yuvraj Singh (both Punjab), Mohammad Kaif (vice-captain), Salab Shrivastav, (both Uttar Pradesh), Swapnil Hazare, Rajesh Pawar (both Mumbai),Pallav Vora (wicket-keeper), Neeraj Patel (both Gujarat), Sunil Vishwanath (Tamil Nadu), Anshu Jain (Rajasthan), Wrichik Mujumdar (Bengal), Venugopal Rao (Andhra). Coach: Krishnamachari Srikanth.

Sri Lanka: Upeka Fernando (captain), Prasanna Jayawardena (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Pubudu Senevirathne, Ian Daniels, Thilina Kandambi, Duminda Perera, Chamara Silva, Malinga Bandara, Ruwan Sujeewa de Silva, Prabath Nissanka, Malintha Gajanayake, Jehan Mubarak, Ranil Dhammika. Coach: Carlton Bernadus.

Umpires: MR Singh, BA Jamula