Sport - Cricket

Where are the allrounders?

The most welcome aspect about the Indian ODI side for the Caribbean is the selection of left-arm spinner Murali Kartik. He can be an asset to the side, however, it is important that he is handled properly by Sourav Ganguly.

Having been Kartik's coach during the India `A' tour of Pakistan some years ago, I can tell you that he is a committed, courageous, and talented cricketer, and should blossom for the country, if given a fair run.

Virender Sehwag, Yuveraj Singh, and Mohammad Kaif will also be travelling to the West Indies, and the three are young and hungry batsmen with potential. They are fine fielders as well.

Dinesh Mongia is already in the West Indies, and the youngster had a fine series as an opener in the home ODI contests against Zimbabwe. It will be interesting to see who opens for India, considering that both Mongia and Sehwag have had significant success at the top of the order. The team-management has to be decisive here.

The Indian batting is in safe hands. Keeping in mind that Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman have had a wonderful time in the Test series, their form cannot be overlooked for the ODIs. In any case, the composition of the Indian eleven will be very interesting. With so many contenders, there will be pressure on those selected to perform and this can only be good for Indian cricket. It is never a bad thing to have options. On the flip side, the side lacks allrounders, whose role is so crucial in one-day cricket. Where are the allrounders?

The Indian bowling will be put to severe test. Ajit Agarkar is back, but Javagal Srinath does not find a place. The big question is whether the Karnataka paceman had requested to be `rested' or was `rested' by the selectors. In case the selectors had opted to leave him out then it doesn't make much sense, for Srinath has bowled splendidly in the Test series, even if he has not been too lucky.

The countdown for the World Cup has begun and this is a crucial ODI series for us. Srinath's presence would surely have helped the team's cause. The young Tinu Yohannan has been retained and one hopes he finally gets picked in the eleven. The paceman figured in the squad but did not get a single game against Zimbabwe, and has hardly played any cricket on the current tour.

While it cannot be denied that Yohannan is promising and his bounce and lateral movement will be handy in the English conditions, it is equally important that he receives an opportunity somewhere in the series. Otherwise he is bound to get demoralised.

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