The Hindu : Kaif makes best impression

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 03, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Kaif makes best impression

By Our Special Correspondent

Mohammad Kaif, who impressed everyone with his performance, pulls Zoysa to the boundary during India'a second match of the NatWest triseries. — Photo: N Sridharan

LEEDS JULY 2. Just as it was felt that there will be the usual selection hurdles and hiccups, came the clear cut statement that the young blood will be given early breaks and a long rope. Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Yuveraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif, not only occupy the top, middle and lower in the positions in the batting order now, but have also given the first hints of having made the breach in the edifice without actually taking the positions of the `Big 3' in Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

The eighth specialist batsman, V. V. S. Laxman, it must be said is not exactly a loser; he will get a look in only should an emergency arise.

His position in the team has been made clear. Laxman, obviously is there in the one-day squad because of his experience and also because of the fact that he comes in straight for Test matches.

Of the four newcomers, Mohammad Kaif was the unknown in terms of having not made the big noise in international cricket.

He made eleven one-day appearances and scored 278 runs with a highest of 68 and an average of 34. His 75 must be considered a silent entry into international scene as against the explosive starts given by the likes of Sehwag, Yuveraj and Mongia. All the three pulverised the opposition and were taken note of as quality batsmen in the making.

So Kaif had a plenty of work to do for people to take notice of him. What goes on at the dressing room rarely becomes public news; no captain puts his cards on the table.

On Sunday, Kaif, arrived at `The Oval after the fall of Sachin Tendulkar and did not keep anyone in suspense; not in the least did he suggest that he was going to play second fiddle to Yuveraj Singh, who with 34 internationals has handled pressure and has a few embellishments brightening his record book.

The plan of action immediately after Tendulkar's dismissal was to attack.

Quick off his feet and supple of his hands and a keen eye, Kaif, probably must have surprised the Sri Lankans.

Kaif made bold strokes. He pulled and hooked, put the ball between gaps and made the target shrink.

``I mean, I had to pull and hook, there was no point in defending. I have playing the pull and hook very well,'' said Kaif, hours after at the lobby of the team hotel at Crowne Plaza, St. James Court.

This is the first time Kaif has come to England as a part of the national team. Years he ago he was in Reetinder Singh Sodhi's team that won the under-15 World Cup.

Thereafter he has spent four months playing league cricket. He did not get a chance to bat against England at Lords, but the next day Kaif's value was there for all to see when the chips were down. Kaif's aggressive approach brightened the otherwise dull and dreary proceedings. More importantly he made sure that India would be home with a plenty of balls to spare.

From a personal point of view he had the satisfaction of playing a role in winning a match for India. That should only spur him to achieve bigger goals when the opportunities come by. Now each of the four - Sehwag, Mongia, Yuveraj and Kaif - have come out with flying colours for India.

Sehwag has, in fact, gone one step further. He has in a way taken Tendulkar's place for one-day internationals.

For over seven years, after Navjot Singh Sidhu complained of a stiff neck hours before a match against New Zealand in Auckland, one of the opening slots belonged to Tendulkar. It is a great credit to Sehwag that he became the batsman to sow the seeds of affecting such a change in the minds of the decision makers in the touring party in the West Indies. This obviously could not have been done without the consent of Tendulkar. Time will tell whether this move will pay off in the long run.

Mongia has won Wisden's acclaim for his sparkling batting against Zimbabwe at Guwahati.

Yuveraj Singh has already let it known he is all set to establish permanency in the team and compete for a place in the Test team. Together the four have made only 101 appearances for India, but have already won admirers in the home of cricket.

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