Tags:
Journalism of Courage
March 4: The Indian team for the World Cup could be short on confidence but not on experience. In fact, the side could start their campaign by playing a eleven that is likely to have a combined appearance of around 1500 One-day Internationals (ODIs).
Agarkar could find himself in that as the least experienced with 30 ODIs, but he has already made a huge impact in his first and only season with a record 58 wickets.
Sadagoppan Ramesh, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Amay Khurasia, Virender Sehwag and Gyanendra Pandey are five sans ODI experience.
With spinners likely to be as comfortable in the English cricket season’s first half as polar bears in the Sahara, Anil Kumble is expected to be the solitary specialist spinner in the 15. The thrust on all-rounders is evident. By that logic, Hrishikesh Kanitkar — by virtue of his greater experience and batting utility — should edge out Sehwag and Nikhil Chopra.
If Vinod Kambli sheds his rustiness and fat to prove his form and — more importantly — fitness in the forthcoming triangulars, his place in the side is assured. The selectors then have to decide between Ramesh and Khurasia. Ramesh has shown fine form and temperament in Tests while Khurasia revels in limited-overs.
Pandey is certain to be one of the standbys. Fortunate to be in the 30 probables, he is even luckier to be in the 19.
The selectors have otherwise done a good work. Bold with experiments, they must be credited for blooding the raw but exciting talent in Ashish Nehra.
Could they not have shown the same foresight with Jacob Martin? The most talked-about batting machine this season, Martin deserved a timely break.
Martin and Debashish Mohanty should consider themselves unfortunate not to find themselves in the 19. The former could have been retained instead of Chopra or Sehwag, and Mohanty for Pandey.
