Spotlight on Kaif, Sodhi

Sodhi said the players were in a positive frame of mind and would go all out to earn a win. “We have some exciting stroke-makers in the side like Mane, Sriram, Kaif, Gautam Gambhir and Niraj Patel and we are hoping to win the toss and bat first,” Sodhi told reporters after the nets this morning.

Kaif was flown to replace an injured Rahul Dravid during the Sharjah tournament but did not get to play a match while Sriram had a disappointing series in Sharjah and both will raring to go here.

Sodhi, one of the most talented all-rounders in the country, said both spinners Ramesh Powar of Mumbai and Sarandeep Singh of Punjab were likely to play as the Zimbabweans are not very comfortable against spin.

Ajay Ratra, who had a good time playing for the junior team will be the wicket-keeper while Mrutunjay Tripathi, Nikhi Dore and Fazal Mohammed would be in charge of the bowling department apart from the two off-spinners.

Coach Vasu Paranjpe of Mumbai said the newly laid pitch at the Nehru Stadium here looked full of runs. “I think the team which bats first will put up a score of around 400 to 450 and the bowlers will have to bowl their hearts out to succeed on this wicket,” he added.

Chief coach Hanumant Singh said he was confident of his team doing well in this match. “We have the best young talents in the country and it should be interesting to watch them perform,” he added.

The visitors will be without Streak, who stayed back to get his tooth removed at Harare and Brain Murphy, who will join the team after appearing for his exams tomorrow. Former Australian speedster Carl Rackemann, who is coaching the Zimbabwe team, joined them today from Delhi.

Stand-in captain Whittall will be looking for runs from the two former skippers Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower. It will also be interesting to see how opening batsman Stuart Carlisle, batsmen Grant Flower, Paul Strang and Trevor Madondo cope with the spinners.

Their new ball bowlers look impressive. Young speedster Travis Friend is the man to watch. He will be backed up by Paul Strang, Henry Olonga, Gavin Rennie and Mluleki Nkala.

The last international match held here was between India and Sri Lanka which had to be called off after 17 minutes of play due to unplayable pitch condition in 1997. The Zimbabweans will be the first foreign team to play on this ground after the Indian board stopped sanctioning international matches to Indore in 1997.