Yet another mixed bag from the selectors

Anand Vasu

June 13, 2001

Five wise men met at Mumbai on Wednesday and decided that five men from the Indian Test squad currently playing in Zimbabwe will return to India after the second Test and take no part in the triangular oneday tournament that follows. Openers Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das, leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule and medium pacers Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra are the players who have been handed tickets for the early return flight. Srinath has opted out of the one-dayers while the others were omitted. To fill the gaps, Railways medium pacer Harvinder Singh, Punjab's Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Dinesh Mongia and Delhi middle order batsman Virender Sehwag join the squad.

The selectors have an uncanny ability to spring surprises, and the announcement of the squad for the one-dayers was no exception. Perhaps the most glaring of omissions is in the wicketkeeper's slot. Vijay Dahiya has been India's first choice stumper for the shorter version of the game ever since he made his debut in the ICC KnockOut tournament played in Nairobi. In the recently concluded series at home against Australia at home, Dahiya performed creditably, if not outstandingly, even notching up a half century in the first one-dayer at Bangalore, his career best.

Another Delhi man, Ashish Nehra too has genuine reason to feel wronged. After bowling well in the first Test at Bulawayo, he was certainly in contention to make the one-day squad. Bowling accurately and swinging the ball both ways, Nehra picked up five wickets. Perhaps his tally would have been more if he was not banned from bowling halfway through the second innings after running on the protected area.

The third omission that is bound to raise some eyebrows is of Robin Singh. Having missed out in the last few series, perhaps the writing was on the wall for the 37-year-old Tamil Nadu cricketer. Have the selectors decided that Robin Singh's career is finished? It has been said time and time again, and yet bears mention once more. Even at his age, Robin Singh is among the fittest and most committed cricketers in the Indian circuit. As the team was announced, Robin Singh was away in Trinidad, spending time with his parents.

One youngster who might feel disappointed at being omitted is attacking southpaw Yuvraj Singh. After bursting onto the scene with an explosive 83 against the Australians in the ICC KnockOut, Yuvraj has slowly faded into the background. Dinesh Mongia, another left hander, was preferred over Yuvraj Singh. Selection committee chairman Chandu Borde, who spoke to reporters at Mumbai, said that the committee opted for Dinesh Mongia as he was more consistent.

After doing well in the domestic competition this year, Harvinder Singh makes a comeback. The Punjab and Railways medium pacer last played a limited overs game for India in the 1997-98 season against Australia at Sharjah.

The big guns of the Indian team remain in Zimbabwe as expected. Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are all fit and raring to go. Hemang Badani, Samir Dighe, Debashish Mohanty, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar keep their places.

The one day squad:

Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, Samir Dighe, Debashish Mohanty, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Harvinder Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Dinesh Mongia and Virender Sehwag.

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