Kumble may be bench-pressed again

The eyebrows that were raised about Anil Kumble not getting into the eleven for the last two consecutive games might just stay arched for so...

The eyebrows that were raised about Anil Kumble not getting into the eleven for the last two consecutive games might just stay arched for some time. Indian coach John Wright gave enough indications to that effect saying that 8216;8216;chances are that the same side that won against Zimbabwe and Namibia will be retained for the crucial game against England at Durban on Wednesday.8217;8217;

This also means that the injury to Ashish Nehra, who bowled just one ball in the previous match before spraining his ankle, is not serious and he will be fit for the game at Kingsmead. Confirming this, Wright said that Nehra with his newfound pace will be more than handy against the Englishmen.

Though Saurav Ganguly had said at Pietermartizburg that 8216;8216;dropping Kumble has always been a tough decision8217;8217; for him, Wright8217;s words today suggested that the skipper will be forced to take that difficult decision in Nehra8217;s favour once again.

Besides, Ganguly seemed highly impressed with Nehra8217;s pace burst at Harare and had said that the left-arm pacer reminded him of Srinath in his prime. Ganguly8217;s fixation about Nehra is nothing new and the young pacer has, on quite a few occasions, justified his skipper8217;s faith.

In India8217;s rare Test match wins at Zimbabwe and the West Indies in the recent past, Nehra had played a steller role. The man who impressed one and all with his swing during his debut series against Zimbabwe has unfortunately had an injury-ridden career.

The left-arm pacer8217;s incoming ball, which troubled Brian Lara repeatedly on the West Indian tour, suddenly seems to have disappeared. But when Nehra clocked above 140kph in the game against Zimbabwe, Ganguly8217;s eyes lit up. In the very next game, the skipper opted for Nehra instead of Zaheer Khan to open the bowling with Srinath but, as fate would have it, he could just bowl one delivery.

Persisting with Nehra in the game against England would not exactly be a wrong choice. In the last game that was played at Kingmead, Canada8217;s Austin Codrington with his swing bowling finished with a five-wicket haul. Besides the left-arm pacer with his new-found pace could create problems for the two left-handed openers 8212; Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick. When it is Left vs Left, Nehra has often come up trumps. Case in point: Brian Lara.

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The long stint for the part-time spinners in the Namibian game and their success just reveals Ganguly8217;s gameplan and also proves that it can work. Though the skipper might once again be criticised for dropping Kumble but facing brickbats is nothing new for the man with a mind of his own.

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