The seven-batsman theory might be in jeopardy

Ever since that spectacular run chase against England in the NatWest final at Lord's, India has firmly believed in playing seven batsmen with Rahul Dravid doing the duties of a wicketkeeper too. Should they stick to the same script for the crucial World Cup game against Australia too?

Probably not. For the sad story of the Indian batting continues, even in the World Cup - seven batsmen and yet not enough runs.

3 Virender Sehwag 94.13%

4 Javagal Srinath 93.32%

5 Harbhajan Singh 91.05%

6 Yuvraj Singh 88.04%

7 Zaheer Khan 87.64%

8 Mohammad Kaif 85.51%

9 Sourav Ganguly 82.58%

10 Ajit Agarkar 69.11%

11 Sanjay Bangar 54.99%

12 Ashish Nehra 53.67% 13 Anil Kumble 48.57% 14 Dinesh Mongia 31.03% 15 Parthiv Patel 27.62%

In the match against Netherlands at Paarl, it was Sanjay Bangar, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar and Parthiv Patel who missed making it to the playing eleven. The People's XI, in contrast, did not have Nehra, Mongia, Kumble and Parthiv Patel in it. Interesting that Kumble received only 48.57% of votes and Mongia only 31.03 %.

There seems to be some sort of a warning signal for the Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly too. He was voted in at the ninth position in The People's XI. It must be noted that above 17% of the voters did not pick Ganguly in their team.

When it came to the match, India opened with Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, with Virender Sehwag coming in at number three. While that came as something of a surprise what did not was India going in with seven batsmen and four bowlers, who incidentally included both the spinners.

Would seven batsmen do what six batsmen can't? Let us look at the evidence, which would help you decide whom you should be voting for.

3 Rahul Dravid 194 19.40

4 Sourav Ganguly 147 14.70

5 Sachin Tendulkar 107 15.28

6 Dinesh Mongia 91 10.11

7 Mohammad Kaif 89 8.90

Based on the statistics, someone like Mohammad Kaif must count himself to be very lucky to find himself in the playing eleven. Sanjay Bangar with 160 runs at 20.00 holds the edge over him. Even an Ajit Agarkar with 117 runs at 19.50 is faring better.

There is hardly anything to be done with the four bowlers; Kumble and Srinath picking up four wickets each against the Netherlands have virtually sealed their place. Zaheer Khan, meanwhile, is probably the spearhead of India's bowling, whilst no one dare drop the Turbanator against Australia!

In the final analysis, either India stays with their seven batsmen or drops one of them to include either Bangar or Agarkar. You might have different thoughts about all this - for The People's XI's is the democratic choice!

Vote for the India XI to play against Australia at Centurion on 15th February 2003