Few surprise changes in Indian squad for tri series
Sameer Dighe, who reportedly was the tour management's first choice as a replacement for the injured MSK Prasad earlier this month, finally gets his chance to represent India
Partab Ramchand
30-Dec-1999
Sameer Dighe, who reportedly was the tour management's first choice as
a replacement for the injured MSK Prasad earlier this month, finally
gets his chance to represent India. The 31-year-old Mumbai stumper who
can also open the batting has been included in the 15 man squad to
play in the tri series one day competition involving Australia and
Pakistan, which commences `Down Under' on January 9.
Dighe was with the India A team in the West Indies when the tour
management was said to have asked for him. But Nayan Mongia was sent
instead, leading to an unhappy period for the experienced India
stumper. He played one first class game in Hobart and then with MSK
Prasad being fit, Mongia who got the distinct feeling that he was
unwanted by the tour management, came back to India, downcast and
distraught.
However with Prasad not exactly covering himself with glory, Dighe has
been named in the Indian squad. He is one of five changes made from
the team currently on duty in Australia. The others are Nikhil Chopra,
Robin Singh, Jacob Martin and Sunil Joshi. Those dropped are Vijay
Bhardwaj, T Kumaran, VVS Laxman, MSK Prasad and Harbhajan Singh.
The changes generally reflect the transition from the longer game to
the one day game. For the players included are one day
specialists. Joshi, Robin Singh and Chopra were predictable
choices. Baroda's Jacob Martin, who played with modest success in the
DMC Cup in Toronto, was tipped to make a comeback. And after the team
management had reportedly asked for Dighe, it was always on the cards
that he would get the nod.
There are no real surprises among those omitted. Bhardwaj had made a
name for himself in his international career of a few months as a one
day specialist but on Australian wickets he was clearly like a fish
out of water. Harbhajan Singh was an absolute failure and Laxman does
not have the one day credentials. Prasad's keeping was certainly not
up to the mark.
The unlucky player is probably Kumaran. One of the quintet of seam
bowlers had to be omitted and it was just his misfortune that the axe
had to fall on Kumaran. The Tamil Nadu medium pacer started well on
the tour of Australia. Despite being picked as a reserve opening
bowler, he seemed to have done well enough to merit a place in the
Test side. With the tour selectors deciding to strengthen their
batting by including Agarkar, Kumaran could not get a look in and now
he has been dropped. One hopes this is not the end of his all too
brief international career and he does not go the way of Vivek Razdan
and Salil Ankola.
Another player to suffer misfortune is Sadagopan Ramesh. But for his
injured thumb, he would have kept his place in the one day squad for
he has also done fairly well in the limited overs game. On the other
hand, Devang Gandhi is a bit fortunate to be retained for he too has
not found the faster and bouncer Australian wickets to his liking. In
any case, it is difficult to see how he can be accommodated in the
playing eleven.
The first choice 12 is likely to be: Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid,
Dighe, Robin, Kanitkar, Srinath, Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil
Joshi, Agarkar, Mohanty. Should the selectors decide to play a third
spinner, then Chopra takes the place of Mohanty (or Agarkar). Martin
is at best a reserve middle order bat. With Tendulkar, Ganguly and
Dighe as opening batsmen, it is difficult to see how Gandhi can find a
place, given the fact that his faulty technique has been exposed badly
on Australian pitches.
Finally, by deciding against including Md Azharuddin, the selectors
have sent another signal to the former Indian captain. But it is
doubtful whether he will see it. He will no doubt still be hoping for
a recall for the series against South Africa in February by which time
he will enter his 38th year.
The squad: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid,
Devang Gandhi, Sameer Dighe (WK), Jacob Martin, Robin Singh, Hrishikesh
Kanitkar, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh
Prasad, Sunil Joshi, Nikhil Chopra and Debasis Mohanty