Indian news round-up

Syed Saba Karim, the former Indian 'keeper whom Deep Dasgupta succeeded in the Bengal Ranji squad, feels that the selectors did right by naming the young man for the tour of South Africa.

Talking to Kolkata's Telegraph newspaper, Karim began by praising Dasgupta's temperament that saw the latter deliver in a pressure situation in his maiden first-class match.

"From the beginning Deep impressed me with his temperament. We were chasing 450-odd in that Baroda match and under pressure, Deep scored a hundred as an opener.

"I did notice that this chap is mentally prepared to cope with pressure and he has done well under similar situations after that," he added.

Karim, who made his one-day international debut in South Africa in 1996, then went on to offer a few `keeping tips to Dasgupta.

"In South Africa, the wickets offer more carry, so, Deep has to remember that he will be standing further behind the stumps as compared to what he does in India. He has to be quicker in running up to the stumps.

"Also, the wickets are so quick that he has to watch the ball till it settles down in his gloves. One can say a 'keeper has to do that everywhere but on South African wickets, this need is more acute."

Karim felt that Dasgupta the batsman meanwhile would do well by simply sticking to his natural game. "He is not an adventurous starter and prefers to consolidate rather than going for his shots early. He will have to do that when he goes out to bat there as it will take time to get used to the pace of the wickets."

"He is a wicketkeeper-batsman and not the opposite. He is a willing worker and quick learner. That's why he has been able to grab the opportunity in quick time," Karim said before signing off.

Dasgupta's selection has also captured his club Mohun Bagan's attention. The club, famous for being the first Indian side to beat an English side at football, has decided to felicitate Dasgupta on his return from South Africa.

"Since he plays for our club, it is our responsibility to honour him for his selection in the Indian team. We hope he will do us proud," club cricket secretary, Chandranath Chatterjee told the Press Trust of India.

Ace Indian leggie Anil Kumble, making a comeback to the national team after a long injury lay-off, is confident that South Africa will see him back at his wicket-taking best.

"I feel very happy to be back. I have started playing recently and I am quite confident with my bowling," Kumble, named in the Indian team for the tri-series in South Africa, told Reuters on Sunday.

'Jumbo', as the leggie is otherwise known, has been out of the game since October 2000 because of a shoulder injury. After being operated upon by Dr Mark Fergussen, a South African surgeon, in January this year, Kumble returned to first-class cricket recently. He also led the Karnataka side for the MRF Buchi Babu tournament where his last match against Cricket Association of Bengal saw him retire after bowling just five overs.

Kumble, who has bagged 276 wickets in 61 Tests, further told the news agency, "Playing any international game will give confidence. I don't think there will be any problem."

He said he was also looking forward to partnering Harbhajan Singh, one of the stars of India's incredible series win over Australia recently. "It will be good bowling with him. He has done really well in the last 7-8 months."

It now emerges that Sourav Ganguly wanted Vikram Rathore to replace Sameer Dighe as the wicket-keeper in the team for South Africa. The Indian skipper's argument, according to a report in the Indian Express on Sunday, was that the replacement must not only be a good gloveman but a decent bat also.

"We need someone like Sri Lanka's Kumara Sangakkara or Australia's Adam Gilchrist. We need someone solid at No.7 who could be pushed up if need be," the paper quoted Ganguly as saying. Hence his vote for Rathore.

One of the selectors too apparently felt that there was merit in the Indian skipper's argument. However, the 33-year-old Punjab Ranji player's selection was shot down by the rest who felt that his age and the fact that he had failed as an opener on previous occasions went against him. That then is story of how you earned your first cap, Deep Dasgupta.