One 145;A146; to worry about for Kaif

It was a rare moment8212;the guarded Kaif and the spontaneous one seemed to walk together as he came down the stairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India8217;s new headquarters.

The pictures on the wall reflect India8217;s cricketing highs. The photographers see an opportunity and they request Kaif to pose with the frame that shows his biggest moment. A smirk comes on his face: 8220;Arre, it was 20028221;.

It was difficult to guess if the Natwest Trophy final during India8217;s last tour to England was making him happily nostalgic or if he was regretting the ugly turn his career took after that 8216;all too perfect8217; 2002.

He was then looked upon as the next India captain. Now he is, but the suffix A makes a huge difference. While the real Indian stars are at Lord8217;s now, Kaif is speaking about the changes in his batting that will help him make a comeback.

Even when he used to be an India regular, there were those who spoke about the lack of power in his stroke play8212;a batting shortcoming more evident when his fellow traveller on the cricketing ladder, the free flowing Yuvraj Singh, was at the other end. And there have been several such instances since their junior days.

8220;There are certain areas which I am working on and I have been talking to certain coaches and friends to help me,8221; he said. The two 8216;certains8217; in the statement gives an air of uncertainty about Kaif as he talks about the self-doubts that have crept in during the last eight months.

Asked about specifics, he goes on the backfoot. He does speak about the way he has changed his footwork and altered his grip, but still doesn8217;t want to reveal the name of the experts he has been working with.

But, finally, he makes a long overdue confession. 8220;I am trying to get more power into my strokes,8221; he said. Times certainly have changed. The man who hit two sixes and six fours in his 75-ball 87 during the NatWest final in 2002, will be searching for the 8216;punch8217; in his play in international backwaters in the coming days.

Kaif had played several dogged knocks 8212; 66, 4, 62, 62, 12 8212; during the one-day International series against the West Indies in 2006, but the subsequent cold shoulder from the team management has led to the uncertainty over his batting approach and the need to change gears.

Now he opens up as he speaks about 8220;watching his former teammates on television8221; and the feeling of being left out. 8220;It is disappointing,8221; he said as those thick eyebrows formed an arch.

He almost gets philosophical when he says how 8220;making it to the Indian team isn8217;t difficult. But staying there like Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly is what counts.8221;

On the India A tour, he will be leading a side that has the likes of Rohit Sharma and S Badrinath8212;the middle order batsmen who are the contenders for the India8217;s late middle order. Does that put more pressure on him? 8220;Every game is crucial, so the pressure is always there,8221; says the India A captain. That8217;s again 8216;A8217; hard reality of such tours.