Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Indian players, resigned to fate as bad light scotched their dream of making it 2-0, relaxed and opted to relish the 1-0 series win instead. But away from the Indian huddle stood a glum faced Gautam Gambhir, having a long chat with skipper Anil Kumble, who parked a hand over the opener8217;s sore shoulder.
The selection committee meeting was yet to start, but Gambhir, strong contender for the Australian tour, seemed to be grim as Kumble seemed to be offering him some comforting words. Soon it was clear what the conversation would have been 8212; when BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah announced the 16 for the Australia tour.
There was a Delhi opener in the side, but it wasn8217;t Gambhir, neither his state mate Aakash Chopra, also among the probables. Virender Sehwag, someone not shortlisted, was to be the second opener in the squad after Wasim Jaffer.
Sehwag8217;s inclusion in the 16 is as surprising as his omission was. His credentials as Test opener are unquestionable. Even the famous Aussie batting legend Ian Chappell has commented that Team India needed Sehwag for the tour. Explaining the 8216;probables8217; concept, a BCCI official said: 8220;The shortlist is a formality since there was no rule to pick the 16 from the 24.8221;
It is learnt that skipper Kumble gave his vote to Sehwag after the selectors8217; first choice opener Gambhir was ruled out because of injury. As BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah informed later: 8220;Physio John Gloster has advised him rest for three weeks.8221;
If the Bangalore outing proved unlucky for Gambhir, wicket-keeper Dinesh Kaarthick chipped in with a half-century in the nick of time to nose ahead of the prolific run-getter gloveman Parthiv Patel. Sources say that chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar called Parthiv after the meeting and asked him to carry on the good work and not be disappointed.
The highly contentious pace department, affected by a spate of injuries of late, saw the inclusion of selection-eve dark horse Pankaj Singh of Rajasthan.
The tall, tireless bowler is rewarded for his performance in the Ranji Trophy and India A games. His six-wicket haul against Mumbai on a dead track in the last game saw him take his Ranji Trophy wicket tally to 28. He elbows past perennial fitness suspect Munaf Patel, who returns to the domestic grind after another brief international comeback.
Expectedly, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh and Ishant Sharma will be the top three pacers, with Irfan Pathan completing the five-member pace department.
In a nutshell, the squad for Australia is on expected lines, but for the surprise inclusion of Sehwag. But it was a pleasant surprise.
