Sports India

Sachin Tendulkar appeared bright and fresh, alighting from the lift, striding down to the hotel lobby, flashing a smile here, signing an autograph there, and then drifting into the conference hall. Greatness sits lightly on the man whose radiant eyes carry everything with them — joy, pain and even a hint of mischief. Now his vision, sweeping across the room, was picking out familiar faces from among those who had swarmed around him.

The event in Chennai was no more than a routine introduction of a product’s brand ambassador to the media. Yet, given Tendulkar’s aura, it was not surprising that the cameras whirred, the flashbulbs came to life, and the scribes crammed the area.

Soon the questions began to fly. One of them, revolving around individuals in a team game, forced Tendulkar to cross his eyebrows before he gathered himself. “It is the team that is more important. It is India that should win. I am an Indian first,” his voice boomed.

Those were difficult days for Tendulkar. A cyst on his right shoulder had kept him out of the ODI series in the West Indies. He was racing against time to regain fitness for the Test series. And a visit to the MRF Pace Foundation formed a part of his rehabilitation programme.

Subsequently, he opted out of the Test series against Brian Lara’s men, but Tendulkar the Team-man would be flying out to Sri Lanka for the tri-nation ODI series, beginning on August 14.

Injuries have disrupted his batting rhythm in the last two years, but he still inspires, and to a side that is an amalgam of youth and experience, is a guiding light. He is someone who can lift the side’s morale during times of adversity, both in the dressing room and on the arena.

The blue Indian headgear with its golden crest is the driving force as he pursues glory for the side, his integrity gleaming like headlights on an unlit highway. Wrapped around his considerable natural ability is the kind of commitment and discipline that creates men who are timeless. And shining through is the sort of single-mindedness that can slice through roadblocks, melt down obstacles.

It’s the fire within that has fuelled Tendulkar’s quest towards greatness and beyond. In several senses, his journey has been a rage for perfection.

To the youngsters in Team India, he is a mentor and a role model who instils self-belief. On the eve of the ODI in Karachi this year, Tendulkar gifted his willow to the talented Suresh Raina during the nets, a laudable gesture from a legend to an aspirant.

Yuvraj Singh would tell you about the surge in his confidence levels when he, on his first day with the Indian team, secured a seat next to Tendulkar. “It was like sitting with a cricketing God. I cannot forget the moment,” he said.

In a career of miles and milestones, there are more destinations to be reached for Tendulkar. In the highway of international cricket, many have fallen off the track and never got back on the road again. The secret of Tendulkar’s survival is that he has always discerned motes of light amid darkness.

And even more remarkable than his three-figure exploits is the fact that he has shouldered the expectations of a nation for 17 years. The enormous pressure to perform can weigh down on a person, but Tendulkar has seen it as a motivating factor, not burden.

Crucially, he takes the load off Dravid, both on and off the field. Tendulkar, in what he describes as his evolution as a batsman, might have changed his approach in Tests to a less flamboyant one — he has principally cut out the aerial shots — but is still a gloriously aggressive batsman in the ODIs, his blistering efforts against the Sri Lankan and Pakistani attacks underlining his quality.

Argues elegant Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu: “He has changed, but if someone tells me this much will be your change from age 16 till now, I will say `thank you very much’ and accept it. He is such a wonderful player. At home, when my wife grumbles about me watching cricket, invariably Sachin would be batting. As age progresses and the pressures increase, one’s approach will change.”

Against probing pace attacks on surfaces that assist seam movement or in conditions that encourage swing, Tendulkar and Dravid are technically the best equipped to cope. Tendulkar’s temporary dip in form does not indicate a decline in quality. The whispers about his reflexes dulling out are without basis. As India physio John Gloster points out, “He is still only 33. He is still an explosive athlete.”

The drying up of his runs in Tests against Pakistan and England had more to do with him picking up a tendency to shuffle across, a flaw he seems to have corrected during practice sessions thereafter, batting with ramrod straightness.

Chappell realises Tendulkar’s influential qualities, so do his team-mates; skipper Dravid is a great admirer of his ways. Here is a phenomenon, who has constructed lasting monuments with a delightful mix of sunshine and steel, undaunted by adversity and unfazed by either reputations or situations.
Technically impeccable for most part, and temperamentally hard to break, Tendulkar has been a formidable barrier for the bowlers of all kind, engaging the sphere in captivating conversations. He picks the length of a delivery earlier than most, and with footwork that is precise, is perfectly balanced for the appropriate response.

Psychologically, Tendulkar’s presence is a huge boost to the side’s morale. He has been in the rarefied zone before, could so easily take flight again in the field of dreams. The opposition is wary of this champion cricketer. In fact, it fears him.

Given his experience and his comprehension of the game’s nuances, Tendulkar’s views are constantly sought by the side. Though not a part of the team-management that comprises Dravid, Chappell and vice-captain Virender Sehwag, Tendulkar is rarely left out on matters of team selection and the formulation of strategy.

The move to elevate Irfan Pathan to the No. 3 spot in the Nagpur ODI against Sri Lanka last year was his idea. A brilliant ploy, it actually triggered the wave of innovation and flexibility, orchestrated by Chappell and Dravid, that dominated India’s cricket in the one-dayers.

He has a heart larger than his small frame. Tendulkar has endured much pain for the country, from the moment he, then a 16-year-old, was struck on his face in the Sialkot Test. He was bleeding but refused to leave the arena.

“He has courage and vision. And he still has the eye of the tiger. You do not judge the impact of a player of Tendulkar’s ability from only the runs he makes.” says Chappell.

India has a busy and an extended season ahead that would culminate with the World Cup. While the ODI competition in Colombo could set the tone — the season-beginning competitions have their own significance — India faces major challenges in the Champions Trophy, the tour of South Africa where the wickets could be sprinkled with venom and in the ultimate competition — the World Cup.

Astonishingly for a cricketer who has been around for so long, he still gambols on the park with the enthusiasm of a schoolboy, his eyes lighting up each time he bounds in with the ball. Says Gloster, “There are times when I have to hold him back during training, rather than push him. He is a professional in every aspect of the word. In terms of commitment and dedication, it’s always been nothing less than 100 per cent from him. He has come back from a very difficult shoulder surgery. He has been around for 17 years and I think his body has coped with the demands extremely well. He didn’t miss a match for a long time, which I feel is remarkable. It’s only natural that he too grapples with injuries now, which is natural with any sportsman who has been around for so long.”

To the journalists, he is a man for whom `word’ is everything. He once spoke to The Hindu when his Mumbai team-mates did the packing for him; Tendulkar was in a hurry to catch a flight. On another occasion, he shared his thoughts with Sportstar from the back of an aircraft, unmindful of a bumpy journey on a day of cloudy skies. More recently, when this correspondent was down with a viral fever, he received a call on his mobile from a concerned Tendulkar who wanted to keep his interview promise. He then spoke from his heart.

Even while pursuing cricketing eternity, Tendulkar has his eyes open to the wonders on a much larger canvas. Stories of the triumph of the spirit never cease to amaze him. He has kept his feet on the ground. India does appear a different team, when he buzzes around. This diamond is firmly silhouetted in the Indian Blue.

Yuvi may have missed the Arjuna Award the first two times, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be third time lucky!

Missing it twice has made him more hopeful of winning it this time round. The free-stroking but judicious batsman in the Indian middle-order, Yuvraj Singh has been nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award for the third consecutive year. In an exclusive dialogue, Yuvi talks about his expectations for the award and more.

How does it feel to have been nominated yet again?

It feels great. Being nominated for Arjuna Award in itself is a great honour.

It’s the third time. Has the level of expectation decreased?

No. In fact I am much more hopeful this time.

And why?

That’s just a natural feeling.

The BCCI has also put forward the name of pace-man Irfan Pathan for the same award. Does that dampen your hopes?

It is government’s recognition and who will get it depends primarily upon the jury members. I would respect the decision of the jury whether I win or somebody else does.

What, according to you, have been the shortcomings because of which you’ve missed the award twice earlier?

I am sure there were more competent people. It’s a presidential award and is cleared after a thorough analysis. I don’t know about the benchmarks which get the award. All I can say is that the one who really deserves it will get it. I can just be optimistic about myself.

Is your younger brother Zoravar also planning to don a cricketer’s hat?

No, Zoravar is not interested in being a cricketer.

How is your preparation for the forthcoming Sri Lanka series coming along?

I am putting in my best efforts. This series would evaluate the performance for the world cup and I have been working on my batting.

And whom do you look up to as a batsman?

Since childhood my favourite batsman has been Sachin Tendulkar. He is an all-time great.

Indian cricketers sweating it out at the National Cricket Academy in the pre-season conditioning camp has been a regular sight over the last few years, but it is all set to change a wee bit this time around. In a press conference here on Tuesday afternoon to announce the commencement of the fitness camp, trainer Gregory King revealed that the players would be whisked away to an undisclosed location away from Bangalore for a rigorous training session for the next three days.

Evading queries

King was a picture of charm and sealed lips literally as he deftly evaded probing queries from the media about the whereabouts of the training location. “We will be leaving early tomorrow (Wednesday) morning for a facility outside Bangalore. We will be doing teaming activities, group training and also some leadership activities. Basically we will be there for three days and no media is to be present at that facility,” King said though he did add that an instructor from the training facility would brief the media about the camp details on July 29.

According to King, the players after returning to Bangalore will have a few tests at Hotel Ashok besides some relaxation sessions. “On 29th morning, there will be medical assessment, postural assessment, muscular skill assessment as well as some body composition assessment.

“Following that in the afternoon we will be doing a relaxation session that will include yoga, swimming, tai chi and massage. Basically the three days prior to that will be both physically and mentally demanding for the guys and so we are going to work on the recovery process too,” King said.

Fitness test

The players will have a fitness test at the NCA on July 30 and on July 31, they will have a morning session in an undisclosed defence establishment in the city. The camp will wind up with a morning session at the NCA on August 1. King also made it clear that the media would have access to all the outdoor sessions at the NCA while all the indoor sessions besides other training stints, both in the outskirts as well as in a defence establishment, will be closed-door affairs.

On the veil of secrecy shrouding the players’ training venues, King said: “I am trying to keep it quiet from the players as well. I want them to be unprepared for the next three days. So it is not that I am trying to keep it away from you in the media but it’s more about keeping it away from the players. Basically we have been doing similar camps at the NCA for the last three years and so we would like to try something different and take them out of the environment that they are used to. The idea for this basically came from the team management that sat down and discussed what is the best way forward in these fitness camps,” King said.

Comeback men

Queried on the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, L. Balaji and Murali Kartik, who are all coming back from injuries, King said: “As far as I am aware from the fitness reports that are available with physio John Gloster, Sachin’s fitness levels are normal, so he is fit to be selected. From my own perspective I will know a better picture when I see Sachin in practice. As regards Balaji and Kartik, most of my feedback is from the interaction that Gloster had with them in Chennai and Delhi respectively. As far as I am aware, Kartik is in the early stages of his rehabilitation.”

When prodded on why Bangalore was preferred over Chennai which has a similar weather pattern to Colombo — the venue of next month’s tri-series, King said: “Look we have raised this issue before. What happened when we practised once in Chennai before was that the guys were actually so drained by the time they got to Sri Lanka. So we opted to train in Bangalore and we have got more than enough time in Colombo to acclimatise.”

Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina practised at the KSCA (B) ground, while the rest of the players have started arriving in batches. Virender Sehwag and V.V.S. Laxman arrived by afternoon flights and the rest are scheduled to arrive at staggered timings.

The trio of King, Gloster and bio mechanist Ian Frazer will co-ordinate the functioning of the camp while coach Greg Chappell, who is away in the United States on a private visit, will arrive on July 4 ahead of the cricket skills camp from August 6 to 9.

Different ideas

The current fitness camp will have its accent on spouting different ideas and training methods to the players.

“The idea in having the camp at different places is to give a new and different experience to the players. For instance, tai chi, a martial art is supposed to help improve concentration and focus. Of course we are experimenting and having only one session of it but it is all part of the desire to provide something new to the players.

“We do get a lot of feedback from the players and we are constantly trying new strategies and methods, and let me be honest, some of them don’t succeed and those experiments are left on the wayside, but with the ones that work, and the ones that get a positive feedback from players, we persist with them,'’ King said.

India’s top cricketers will assemble in Bangalore on Tuesday for a week-long conditioning camp to prepare for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Apart from the 15-member squad announced for the series, few more players like Laxmipathy Balaji, Murali Karthik and V V S Laxman have also been called for the camp that would conclude on August 1.

Medium pacer Irfan Pathan, who has been training at the National Cricket Academy for the last two days, was joined by Suresh Raina on Monday and both had a practice session.

Team’s bio-mechanist Ian Frazer and trainer Gregory Allen King have already arrived here to guide the cricketers and oversee the camp.

The fitness camp would be followed by a cricket skills camp from August 6 to 10.

Besides hosts Sri Lanka and India, South Africa is the third team taking part in the tri-series to be staged from August 14 to 29.

Ahead of the Indian team’s fitness camp beginning in Bangalore on July 25 medium pacer Irfan Pathan began preparing for the Tri-series in Sri Lanka at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Pathan arrived in Bangalore on Friday for a brief session at the NCA before the camp begins. Pathan had a brief two hour session at the Academy having both bowling and batting practice under the guidance of Team India Asst Coach and Bio-mechanist Ian Frazer.

After a moral boosting Test series win against the Windies, the Indian team is gearing up for the Lankan tour beginning on August 10.

The left arm medium pacer having a tally of 108 wickets from 63 matches currently has an impressive ODI average of 24.54. In Tests he is nine short of the century mark and has averaged 30.79

The Baroda lad had also made useful contributions with the willow for the country in ODIs in crucial junctures and had scored 858 runs with an average of 26. He had notched up four half centuries with the being 93.

Also View
In-Depth Coverage: India-South Africa-Sri Lanka Tri Series 2006
Team Page: India
Team Page: Sri Lanka

Fringe players would be as much under the spotlight as the regulars when the conditioning camps begin in Bangalore this week in the lead up to the cricket tri-series in Sri Lanka next month.

It appears the Cricket Board has done a wise thing by calling up even those players for the camps who are not a part of India’s one-day scheme of things at present.

With the Champions Trophy slated for October-November and World Cup in March next year, the Board obviously is looking at the wider picture and keen to identify a pool of players for the quadrennial extravaganza.

Whatever the BCCI plans be, the call-up might indeed turn out to be a boon for bowlers like Laxmipathy Balaji and Murali Kartik who have been struggling with their rehabilitation following injuries.

Kartik has been laid low by a shoulder injury while Balaji has been troubled by a lower back problem.

Punjab speedster VRV Singh is also expected to be part of the camps, the first of which begins on Tueday, while Ashish Nehra might give it a skip since he is playing for a club in England.

Irfan Pathan, whose indifferent form in the Caribbean has set alarm bells ringing, is already here, getting in a few extra sessions of bowling practice under the guidance of biomechanist Ian Frazer at the National Cricket Academy, venue for the two camps.

Pathan’s form is crucial to the team’s one-day fortunes given the balance he imparts to the side with his all-round skills. Hence it is vital that the Baroda left-armer finds his groove before action begins in Colombo on August 14.

Also expected to join the 15-member squad for the camps is stylish right-hander VVS Laxman.

Laxman has not played a one-day international since the tri-series in Sri Lanka in 2005 but he let his feelings known at being left out of the one-day squad after he slammed a century in the recent Test series against the West Indies.

The camps also assume significance in view of the fact that Sachin Tendulkar will be back with the rest of the team after a hiatus stretching to almost five months.

Tendulkar was named in the Sri Lanka bound squad last week after reports by physio John Gloster stated that the Mumbai batsman was fit enough to resume international action.

The two camps, the first intended to test the fitness of players and the second concentrating on skills, will provide Tendulkar another chance to test himself out before donning the team colours in Colombo.

Coach Greg Chappell, currently on a vacation to the USA, is likely to join the team ahead of the second camp which is scheduled to begin on August 6.

The 4-1 defeat to West Indies may have been brushed aside as a one-off reversal by the team management, but the fact that the Caribbean hosts the World Cup next year would not be lost on Chappell and Co.

Irfan Pathan was not his congenial best on Wednesday. He postponed a scheduled interview saying: “Selection is tomorrow. I don’t want to talk about anything now”. Reports about Pathan being omitted from the squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka were doing the rounds. Being “rested” in three of the four Tests in the West Indies provided fodder for experts to dissect Pathan’s game on prime time television.

It seemed to have bothered him. “I have not read or watched anything yet, but I have heard from others what people have been talking about me,” he says. “So let’s talk tomorrow”.

On Thursday, Pathan’s name is on the team list. He has been a regular feature since December 2003 after taking nine wickets in an Under-19 game against Bangladesh earlier in November. And nobody is rocking his applecart just yet.

He was the No.2 one-day bowler in the world in April, but has slipped to No.7 now. He was the No.2 all-rounder but has slipped five places over the past couple of months. Bring the fall in the ranking to his notice and Pathan tells DNA: “No one plays for rankings. We can’t worry about other things while playing. Rankings are for the people.”

Pathan did not have the best of times during the two-month long tour of the West Indies. Being rested is something new for India’s bowling spearhead. Ask him about his mediocre run and Pathan says: “It’s just four games. Even in those four games I played in the West Indies, I picked up six wickets. Maybe I went for 5.3 runs per over. People are making it look so bad. ‘He is not in form, he is not in rhythm, and he has done so badly’. I don’t think there is any rough patch or anything.”

Pathan admits that the criticism did get under his skin a bit “I get upset. People are talking blah, blah, blah. But there should be a limit. Even in those four matches I didn’t play badly. Only in the last match I didn’t bowl too well. Even in the Test match, I got one wicket in each innings. But I have to get on with it. I can’t change anything people want to say,” he says

Pathan played only one Test and did not figure in the last one-day international. His six wickets came at 29.83 in the one-dayers and in the second Test at St Lucia, he took two wickets at 46.50. “I didn’t feel good not playing matches. But I didn’t show it and I took it in a really nice way. Everyone has to understand only 11 can play in a team. That is why there is a 15- member squad. I understood the situation. I said okay, it is alright,” Pathan says.

“When you are not picked you don’t have to have that look on your face, like someone has died. If I showed it would affect others. In the dressing room and even while doing duty as 12th man I always knew everything would be fine. I was happy with the way I coped with it,” he says. “I have been a good player. That is why I was there; No. 2 bowler and all-rounder. You play 50 to 60 games and there are bound to be three or four bad matches here and there”.

Probe him a bit further about warming the benches and Pathan says: “Yeah, it was the toughest period of my career so far. But I learnt a lot of things. I must say that I have become really strong mentally. Now I look at myself in the mirror and I can see myself being tough,” he says.

So how would you describe yourself? “A bowler who can take wickets.” And he is quick to add: “A bowler who would like to take wickets. I was never a quick bowler. When I started off in my first game I clocked 128, 130 and 134. My pace has not gone down as people believe. I am not concerned about bowling speed. See the wickets are different all over,” he says.

Pathan admits that at times a conscious decision is taken to bowl a tad slower. “You have to realise that to swing the ball you have to cut down on your pace sometimes. As long as I take wickets I am happy. Pace comes with rhythm,” he says.

He is now increasingly being considered as an all-rounder but Pathan doesn’t want to be given a tag. “I always say that I am a bowler who can bat. And I am still saying that. It is a good thing and a positive thing that I can also bat.”

Has playing non-stop cricket, being expected to deliver the goods with the bat and the ball taken its toll? Pathan does not buy this argument. “Even when you bowl you are under pressure to take wickets. When I bat, my thinking changes and when I bowl, my thinking changes. Yes, I don’t put myself under as much pressure while batting as while I bowl. But I still want to make runs. When you are a young kid, you want to be a good cricketer. I enjoy scoring a 50 as much as taking wickets,” he says.

Okay, if everything is fine, why have you over the past two years taken tips from so many former players — Wasim Akram, TA Sekhar, Andy Roberts — and Greg Chappell and Ian Frazer in the Indian team guiding you?

“Asking for help it is not a bad thing. The most important thing is that you have to be your own coach. I listen to everyone; take things that will help me. I keep trying (not experimenting). Not trying hard. I don’t always try to talk to every one. Andy Roberts comes up to me. He was very nice and tried to help me with my rhythm. Learning is always a good thing. Even a world class player with 200 or 300 one-day games or 100 Tests experience may have to learn more. That is how it is.”

Pathan says during his initial days he got caught up in all the hype. He was touted as the next Wasim Akram and the next Kapil Dev. “When I started off and then first went to Pakistan it was a great feeling. I dreamt of playing for India and people were saying so many nice things about me. I probably overworked myself a bit. But over the last one year, I have been more composed. I am listening to my body a lot. I listen to my trainer a lot. But my hard work has never come down. If there is one thing I know best, it is to work hard,” he says. “It is a good feeling to be compared to Wasim and Kapil. But they are great and big players. I have to be mature enough to understand that. If people wrote this in my first series they can write anything. I have to be careful not to get caught up in hype and do my normal work.”

And he knows what he needs to do now. “The first couple of days after having to sit out, my confidence was low. But not anymore. I just need one spell, man. One five-wicket haul and everything is back and I am on track. Then people are not going to talk about my pace going down, the ball not swinging and all that. I just need a five-wicket haul. Or maybe a three or four wicket haul,” he says.

Pathan has no fear of failure. “It is going to be great now on. People have always criticised me. But my thinking is totally different. I know it is going to be really good from here on.”

Indians had another disappointing day in the county cricket championship as Dinesh Mongia failed with the bat while ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble struggled to leave an impression.
Mongia had a forgettable outing as the left-hander managed to score only one off 26 balls before falling to P Jones. However, his team Leicestershire gave a decent reply to Derbyshire’s first innings total of 386. With the help of top-scorer H D Ackerman’s 79, Leicestershire were 265 for 5 according to reports last came in.

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Kumble had a drab match in his debut innings for Surrey as he returned with figures of 1 for 127 off 36 overs.

Surrey bowlers struggled a lot today as Justin Langer went on to score his triple hundred (342) to lead Somerset to 688 for 8 declared in their first innings.

At tea on the second day, Surrey were 49 for one in their first innings.

Worcestershire had a tough day on the first day of their four-day match against Gloucestershire. Captain Vikram Solanki (60) emerged as the top-scorer for Worcestershire as they were all out for 271. Zaheer Khan contributed only 2 in Worcestershire’s first innings total.

On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly did not get a chance to bat on the first day of the three-day tour match today between Pakistan and Northamptonshire.

Batting first, Northamptonshire declared their innings at 269 for 3 as Ganguly did not get a chance to bat against the Pakistani bowlers. Stephen Peters hit a brilliant 142 to guide his side to a healthy score.

Pakistan suffered some early setbacks and were 28 for 2 as per the last piece of information.

Irfan Pathan’s less than satisfactory performance in the West Indies had led to speculation that his place in the team for Sri Lanka was in doubt.

But with the selectors having hinted that there would not be any “wholesale” changes in the team, the Baroda pacer looks a likely prospect for Colombo.

Pathan confidence hit an all time low after just six wickets from four one-day matches in the West Indies. That led to Pathan playing just one test in the Caribbean and watching the rest from the sidelines.

A long way from being dubbed a Wasim Akram clone to becoming team India’s 5th choice bowler. That has also led to questions being asked about his place in the team for next month’s tri-series in Sri Lanka, but the experts feel its just a matter of time.

“He’s a fabulous cricketer. He’s just 21-22 and got a mature head on his shoulders, so its only a matter of his body. I think as soon as he gets back into the rhythm and his body feels fitter, he’ll be bowling better,” said Ajay Jadeja, former Indian cricketer.

“He’s been batting exceptionally well for a middle order batsman, batting well for a bowler. It’s only his bowling that was struggling and that’s why he was sitting out in West Indies. By the time he gets back to Sri Lanka, I am sure he will be back into rhythm,” Jadeja added.

High expectations

It is a rhythm that has dipped, a speed that has diminished, and a threat that seems to have lessened. Pathan himself said before leaving for the West Indies tour that it was the result of a high level of expectation.

“People say I can’t bowl fast. What all will Irfan Pathan do, he will swing the ball; get the breakthrough in the first two overs. Irfan Pathan will bat also, Irfan Pathan will field also, and Irfan Pathan will bowl fast also,” said Pathan before leaving for West Indies.

The selectors who meet on Thursday to select the Indian team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka might want to have a look at the statistics though.

Pathan has been the most successful bowler for India in the last 20 ODIs with 38 wickets to his credit. Ajit Agarkar follows with 25 wickets, with Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel bringing up the tail.

“This situation of Pathan’s confidence being low should not arise at all. Sometimes he is sent to bat at number four, sometimes at six. His concentration is shifting from bowling to batting,” said Anshuman Gaekwad, Former India player and coach.

Even though many believe that his improved batting has cost him his bowling form, its his all round capabilities that give him the edge.

Pathan is in fact in 5th place in the ICC rankings for all rounders. Whether it’s enough to buy him a ticket to Colombo will only be known by Thursday afternoon.

As always there’s plenty of speculation ahead of the selection meeting on Thursday to pick the Indian team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

The selectors need to keep an eye out for the World Cup, which is why they might bring back Anil Kumble and stick with the out-of-form Irfan Pathan.

Sachin Tendulkar’s return to the Indian cricket team also creates more problems for the Indian team management, which is already facing an embarrassment of riches. This was till recently only limited to the bowling department.

“I think if we play four bowlers, then Powar will sit out and if we go with five bowlers, including three spinners necessary for Lankan conditions, then Raina will have to sit out,” said Ajay Jadeja, Former India Captain.

Tendulkar factor

Sachin is an automatic selection as an opener despite his rather indifferent form lately. He has averaged 34 in his last 20 one-day innings, which included two centuries - both against Pakistan.

However, the worrying factor is that 10 of his last 20 innings have been single digit scores.

However, most experts certainly believe in the age-old cliché of class being permanent, which is why the under fire Irfan Pathan also has many admirers who want him to stay in the one-day team despite the dip in his bowling performance.

“Five batsmen and four bowlers is a balanced side. Irfan will come back surely,” said Surinder Khanna, Former India Cricketer.

Recalling Kumble?

Anil Kumble, meanwhile, could well have his stint in county cricket cut short. There are several indications that he will be recalled to the one-day side after being out for exactly a year.

“Anil is a great bowler and he should start playing one-day cricket now. But even if he doesn’t play and the team management decides to try some youngsters, he should definitely play in the World Cup because of the suitable conditions,” said Madan Lal, Former India Cricketer, Coach and Selector.

Too many players fighting for a spot in the team is one happy problem that the Indian skipper Rahul Dravid loves to have.

However, with the Men in Blue playing over 15 ODIs in the next six months, leading up to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, the Indian team think-tank will be hoping to get a permanent solution to all of its problems, including the opening slot.