cricket blog post

Gautam Gambhir

2009-03-28T22:35:00.001-07:00

Gautam Gambhir
Born: 14 October 1981, Delhi
Major Teams: Delhi, India.
Known As: Gautam Gambhir
ODI Debut: India v Bangladesh at Dhaka, TVS Cup, 2003
As a 17-year-old stripling in 2000, Gautam Gambhir's attacking strokeplay at the top of the order for Delhi set tongues wagging in India not least in the ranks of the opposition. Fast-bowler bullies have paid the price for mistaking Gambhir's slight build and shy demeanour for signs of meekness. His compact footwork, high bat-speed and a brashly youthful approach befuddled bowlers more than once as cautious defence was replaced by the aerial route over point. His success took him close to the Indian side when Zimbabwe toured early in 2002. He had pasted successive double-centuries one for Delhi and another for the Board Presidents’ XI against the tourists and seemed to be a shoo-in as Shiv Sunder Das’s opening partner. But the selectors persisted instead with the band-aid solution of Deep Dasgupta. Gutted but determined, Gambhir soldiered on, pressing his case with particular urgency in the West Indies with the Indian A side early in 2003. And when several senior players asked to be rested after the World Cup, Gambhir was summoned from the wings into the national squad for the TVS Cup in Dhaka.

Sreesanth

2009-03-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

Full name Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
Born February 6, 1983, Kothamangalam, Kerala
Current age 23 years 18 days
Major teams India, Kerala, Kerala Under-19s
Also known as Gopu
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium

For three seasons, S Sreesanth was hardly anything more than an answer to a trivia question - who is the only Kerala bowler to have taken a Ranji Trophy hat-trick ? His rise, though, was rapid, and since he played for a weak side, unnoticed. Not too many bowlers get selected for the Duleep Trophy in their first season, like Sreesanth did in 2002-03 after snapping up 22 wickets in his first seven games. His progress was halted owing to a hamstring injury in the following year, but he returned stronger, with a more side-on action and increased pace and a superb display in the Challenger Trophy, in 2005, propelled him to the national squad for the Sri Lanka series.

With so much cricket played these days it is often difficult to keep track of who is who and what they are doing. In a new weekly feature Cricinfo will take a look at one player who is making the news, whether at the highest level or an aspiring talent, and tell you what they are all about. This week, it's the turn of India's new star, S Sreesanth
When India's new-found left-arm pace attack let it all slip after a rollicking start in the third Test against Pakistan at Karachi, the fans were crying out for variety. Sreesanth, always in the reckoning for the one-dayers following an impressive start against Sri Lanka last year, broke the monotony, rolling his right arm and bagging six wickets in the series, four of which were snared in a Karachi pitch which looked as dead as the 'dead rubber' encounter. His pace, coupled with his studious demeanour may be far from frightening. Neither is his gentle delivery stride. What is rather disconcerting for the batsman, however, is his ability to swing the ball late and generate sudden movement off the pitch. The frequent dropped catches by his colleagues at Multan notwithstanding, at Karachi Sreesanth had announced his arrival.

He represents the new breed of Indian cricketers who hail from far-flung regions, which in the past have been given the cold shoulder as far as talent-spotting is concerned. Incidentally, Kerala, his homestate, is revered for its sporting culture and has produced several Olympian athletes but has sadly had a dearth of international-quality cricketers. Sreesanth was to change all that. Early on, he took to legspin, modelling his action on Anil Kumble. However, his pace and penchant for slipping the frequent yorker compelled him to take up fast bowling, encouraged by his elder brother. When his predecessor from Kerala, Tinu Yohanan earned a selection to the National Cricket Academy in 2000, Sreesanth worked harder at his craft, making it to the MRF Pace foundation in Chennai. Success followed almost immediately, making his first-class debut in the 2002-03 domestic season, bagging 22 wickets in just seven matches and meriting a selection in the Duleep Trophy squad in the same season.

In October 2003, he had a chance to impress the selectors in a tour match against the visiting New Zealand side at Rajkot. However, he was laid low by a hamstring pull which saw him bowl just 12 overs, taking one wicket. There was speculation as to why he missed five Ranji Trophy games that season, despite travelling and training with the side. The grapevine had it that an astrologer convinced him to take a break for the sake of his longevity in the game. However, Sreesanth flatly denied this claim, stating that he was training just to regain fitness.

He entered the record books the following season, taking a hat-trick against Himachal Pradesh, the first such feat by a Kerala bowler. Back home, he was nicknamed `The Prince of hat-tricks.' National recognition didn't follow till the Challenger Trophy in 2005, when he played for India B. To start with, his name drew more attention than his skills. There was confusion whether to address him as Sreesanth or S Santh, as shown in scorecards (He later insisted on being called by his first name, ie Sreesanth). But, with an entire nation desperately wishing Sachin Tendulkar to rediscover his touch after a long layoff, here, ironically, was Sreesanth's great opportunity to become a giant-killer. The ball jagged in, trapping Tendulkar right in front, and the minute the finger went up, he had acquired his passport to national colours. Timeline

November 2002 - Ranji Trophy debut against Goa
March 2003 - Duleep Trophy debut for South Zone
October 2003 - Plays tour match against visting New Zealand team. Bowls 12 economical overs and takes the wicket of Craig McMillan. Suffers hamstring pull.
November 2004 - Takes a hat-trick against Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, the first by a Kerala cricketer.
October 1 2005 - Irani Trophy debut.
October 13 2005 - Wins the Man-of-the-Series award in the Challenger Trophy with 7 wickets, the joint highest wicket taker with Murali Kartik.
October 25 2005 - ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Nagpur. Takes 2 wickets
February 19 2006 - Takes best bowling figures in ODIs - 4 for 58 against Pakistan at Karachi.

What he says

"For a start, I never expected to get the new ball. I didn't think I'd even play. Then for Rahul bhai (Dravid) to ask me to open the bowling with Irfan (Pathan) was incredible. Since I've got a large percentage of my wickets with yorkers, my friends suggested I start with one. I almost got Salman Butt in the first match at Peshawar."

What they say

Javagal Srinath, after the third ODI at Multan

"What impressed me most was his attitude. For someone who was ill and down the previous day, he played the game with verve. It's an irony in cricket that often when a player is coming out of a niggling injury or a brief illness, he puts up a performance which is above expectations."

Moin Khan

"To me, the find of the series for India has undoubtedly been Sreesanth and irrespective of what happens, this lad has the ability to go a long way and serve his country with merit and distinction."

What you may not know

Sreesanth is an accomplished dancer and was once a national break-dance champion while in the eighth grade. His favourite entertainer is....well Michael Jackson. His folks back home wouldn't have been surprised to see him shake a leg after taking a wicket in Karachi. In an interview to reporters he said, "People recognise me. When I was on stage, I used to do all silly things to be in the limelight. I love dancing."

Sreesanth's talents and ability were recognised in other sports as well, namely, football, table tennis and hockey. Though hailing from the south, Sreesanth speaks Hindi with a distinct North Indian twang. Hindi aside, he also speaks Malayalam, English and Tamil. He is also a student of psychology and an avid reader.

Known for his guts and spontaneity, once as a student, Sreesanth couldn't resist the urge to meet Sachin Tendulkar. Stopped by a security guard, he managed to bluff his way in, saying that Tendulkar had paid for his scholarship. Little did he know that few years later, he would grab Sachin's wicket to earn national selection.

Zaheer Khan

2009-03-04T02:08:00.000-08:00

Zaheer Khan Statistics
Born: 7 October 1978, Shrirampur, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
Major Teams: Baroda, India.
Known As: Zaheer Khan
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Left Arm Medium Fast

Profile:
Zaheer Khan who quit his engineering studies to pursue a career in cricket is one of the best current findings of Indian team. His emergence has been a revelation for Indian cricket which was badly needing a genuine quick bowler. Zaheer's impressive debut in the ICC KnockOut, when two yorkers in three balls speared into the off stumps of Kenyan batsmen, heightened people's expectations. His pace and willingness to angle the ball into the body has impressed even the best in the World. He is an aggressive wicket taking bowler and has unveiled another potent dimension of his game in the one-dayer at Jodhpur against Zimbabwe, where he struck Henry Olonga for four sixes off the last four balls of the innings thus proving that he is an aggresive batter too.

The emergence of Zaheer Khan has given the Indian new ball attack a sense of well-being after a long hiatus. Zaheer's impressive debut in the ICC KnockOut, when two yorkers in three balls speared into the off stumps of Kenyan batsmen, heightened expectations. He stayed in the forefront of India's ICCKO and Champions Trophy campaigns, picking up 15 wickets, the most prized being Steve Waugh's, which showed he could unsettle the best in the business. Always presenting a composed exterior, his bursts of speed and willingness to angle the ball into the body can discompose most batsmen. In two Tests on bland subcontinent wickets, Zaheer toiled for limited success but his enthusiasm never flagged. He unveiled another potent dimension to his game in the one-dayer at Jodhpur against Zimbabwe, smiting Henry Olonga for four sixes off the last four balls of the innings.

Three years with the MRF Pace Foundation moulded Zaheer into a fighting fit product, ready to pass through the turnstiles into international cricket. He was given the opportunity to train at the Commonwealth Cricket Academy in Adelaide in October 1999 and toured New Zealand with the Academy boys. Having played for Mumbai at the Under-19 level, he failed to break into the city's Ranji Trophy side and sensibly decided to shift allegiances to Baroda. The impact of his Australian sojourn was evident during his maiden first-class season in 1999-2000, which yielded 35 wickets. The lad from Srirampur who quit his engineering studies to pursue a career in cricket would soon rest assured he had made the right decision.

Test Debut: India v Bangladesh at Dhaka, Only Test, 2000/01
ODI Debut: India v Kenya at Nairobi (Gymk), ICC KnockOut, 2000/01

Career Statistics:
TESTS
(including 08/03/2005)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 38 49 12 441 75 11.91 55.19 0 1 10 0

O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 1176.1 239 3840 102 37.64 5-29 3 0 69.1 3.26

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 02/04/2005)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 91 48 19 338 34* 11.65 79.15 0 0 22 0

O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 745.2 45 3625 136 26.65 4-19 6 0 32.8 4.86

FIRST-CLASS
(1999/00 - 2004/05; last updated 31/03/2005)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 69 89 17 1046 75 14.52 0 2 24 0

O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 2245.5 444 7301 241 30.29 6-25 15 3 55.9 3.25

LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(1999/00 - 2004/05; last updated 02/04/2005)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 121 64 24 431 34* 10.77 0 0 34 0

O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 1017 64 4868 171 28.46 4-19 7 0 35.6 4.78

Virat Kohli

2009-03-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

Player profile

Full name Virat Kohli
Born November 5, 1988, Delhi
Current age 19 years 296 days
Major teams India, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Delhi, India Red, India Under-19s
Playing role Lower middle order batsman
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium

Profile:
An attacking player with a cool head, Virat Kohli has already earned a reputation as a level-headed and mature cricketer. Batting at his favourite No. 4 position, he has a penchant for converting his fifties into big scores, as he showed in 2005 when he single-handedly took Delhi from 70 for 4 to a first-innings lead with 251 off 431 balls against Himachal Pradesh in the Under-17 championships. Kohli made his first-class debut for Delhi in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy and in January 2008 was named captain of the Indian U-19 squad for the 2008 World Cup. He contributed 235 runs and became the second Indian U-19 captain to bring home the World Cup as he led India's unbeaten campaign in Malaysia. He was included in India's squad for the one-day series in Sri Lanka in August 2008 and the Champions Trophy to follow in Pakistan. He was handed a debut in the opening match of the Sri Lanka series as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag.

Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100
ODIs 3 3 0 74 37 24.66 127 58.26 0
1st-class 11 17 3 630 169 45.00 1413 44.58 2
List A 12 11 0 323 62 29.36 461 70.06 0
Twenty20 18 17 1 344 76 21.50 293 117.40 0

Harbajan singh

2009-02-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

Harbhajan Singh
Born: 3 July 1980, Jullundur
Major Teams: Punjab, India.
Known As: Harbhajan Singh
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break

Profile:
Harbhajan's elevation to the Indian cap in 1998 was a major surprise to the world because the 18-year-old was relatively unknown outside Punjab. An attacking spinner in the classical mould, he has not yet established himself in the side. The fact that he has not fully enjoyed the confidence of the selectors is one reason for this but his action being deemed suspect by the ICC has also stalled his progress. A stint with former England off spinner Fred Titmus seemed to have done him some good. The one quality that Harbhajan Singh is well known for is that he is a fighter to the core. For a purveyor of slow off spinners, his attitude is aggressive. He is back among the probables for the series against Australia - the opponents against whom he made his Test debut three years before - it is to be hoped that his best results could lie ahead since he has youth on his side.

Harbhajan Singh's road to glory has not been an easy one. The 20-year-old off-spinner from Jullunder has been plagued by allegations of a jerk in his bowling action and insinuations of him having attitude problems. After almost losing his job with employers Indian Airlines and being saddened immensely by the death of his father, Harbhajan was reborn as a cricketer. Training doubly hard, the fiery youngster readied himself for the touring Australians. In the absence of ace legspinner Anil Kumble, India were desperately on the look out for a strike bowler. Bowling with a high arm action, extracting good bounce and considerable turn on good Test match wickets, Harbhajan Singh destroyed the Aussies by scalping 32 wickets in the three Test series. Harbhajan's performance had outdone the previous best wicket tally for an Indian in a Test series against Australia, beating legendary left arm spinner Bishen Singh Bedi's haul of 31 wickets in 1977-78 in Australia. What makes the feat especially commendable is the fact that Harbhajan notched up his wickets in three Tests as against Bedi's five. The most special moment in the series for Harbhajan was undoubtedly the hat-trick he snared in the first innings of the second Test at Kolkata when he dismissed Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne off successive deliveries. In the three Tests, Harbhajan returned figures of 4/132, 13/196 and 15/217, thereby leading India to a famous 2-1 victory.

In the course of the series, Harbhajan was constantly aggressive, giving back in good measure any on field chatter he got from the Aussies. With the bat too Harbhajan struck some lusty blows, earning kudos from teammates, scribes and selectors alike. The arrival of Harbhajan at the international stage as a force to reckon with has been a whiff of fresh air for Indian cricket. India were struggling in the bowling department and Harbhajan has answered the call handsomely.

Test Debut: India v Australia at Bangalore, 3rd Test, 1997/98
ODI Debut: India v New Zealand at Sharjah, Coca-Cola Cup, 1997/98

Delhi ODI: Harbhajan's bhangra rocks
New Delhi, March 28, 2006
After the humiliating Mumbai Test defeat, there was a vociferous clamour to get the Indian team rid of its two 'burdens' - Sehwag and Harbhajan.

After the Feroze Shah Kotla encounter, those demands will gain voice in the first case, but will die down in the second... at least for the time being.

Turbanator produced one of his finest ever bowling performance in recent past to steal the first of the seven ODI series from England's grasp on Tuesday. His exceptional utilization of the low bounce and 'square' turn offered by the pitch had the batsman twitching and prodding at his deliveries.

With just 204 runs needed to win after a yet another forgettable show by the Indian batsman, the tourists stumbled and stuttered and finally fell short of the target by 39 runs.

Harbhajan back with his black patka, posted not only his best ever figures of 5/31 in the limited version of the game, but also top scored for India with an enterprising 37 in the latter stages of a disappointing batting performance, which proved fatal for the tourists.

Having won the toss and put India to bat, Flintoff must have considered himself blessed with recurring windfalls, when Indian batsman played rash strokes one after the other to signal their demise. At the end of the first half, the skipper walked back pleased as a punch, with the hosts just about managing to surmount 200.

However, Fate has a knack of dishing out personal favours to the underdog, which catches the opponent off-gaurd.

At 117/3, England were cruising towards victory with the deadly combination of Kevin Peitersen and Andrew Flintoff at the helm and no speed-breaker in sight - India's fate looked as good sealed.

However, the fall of 3 crucial wickets for just 3 more runs on board got the hosts that vital 'foot in the door'. From then on, Bhajji showed his true colours with the second five-wicket haul of his career, as India successfully defended their meagre total.

At the match presentation, Bhajji rightfully looked relieved and satisfied. "It feels great to be back in the wickets...it's been a while and it really is special."

With a special win in their kitty, India will further look to turn the screws on England. The second of the seven match series will be played in Faridabad on Friday.

Yuvraj Singh

2009-02-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

Yuvraj Singh Statistics

Born: 12 December 1981, Chandigarh
Major Teams: Punjab, India.
Known As: Yuvraj Singh
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Left Arm Medium

Profile:

At 19, Yuvraj is already an all rounder who has proven himself. One need look no further than his performance in the domestic youth competitions and in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. In the final of the Cooch Behar Trophy in the 1999-2000 season, Yuvraj made 358 against Bihar. Any batsman who has the ability to play an innings of that length is bound to be a force to reckon with. Following that performance up with what was an extremely successful World Cup in Sri Lanka, Yuvraj caught the eye of many a cricket pundit. He was named player of the series for scoring heavily through the World Cup, including a tremendous half century that came off just 20 balls in the semifinals against Australia.

A tall, well-built lad, Yuvraj Singh strikes the ball very hard. Although critics feel that he is uncomfortable and imbalanced driving off the front foot, this does not reflect in his performance so far. A useful left arm spinner, Yuvraj sometimes refrains from bowling because of a recurring back strain that has threatened to put him out of action more than once. Yuvraj's father Yograj Singh represented India in one Test match against New Zealand in 1981. A good fielder inside the circle, Yuvraj is regarded by many as an exciting One-Day prospect

ODI Debut: India v Kenya at Nairobi (Gymk), ICC KnockOut, 2000/01

------------------ 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 -----------------
Yuvraj hits six sixes in an over against England
DURBAN, September 19. 2007: Yuvraj Singh smashed fast bowler Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over as India piled up 218-4 in a must-win match against England in the Twenty20 world championships on Wednesday.

ball-by-ball commentary .........
18.1 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, that's out the ground, super shot over cow corner and it just kept going up.

18.2 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, now that really is sweet, no more than a dismissive flick off his legs, swatting a fly, and the ball arcs deep into the crowd beyond backward square leg. The dodgy TV measurement says that's 111 yards but as it landed outside the ground how do they know? They guess that's how.

18.3 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, he's hitting them everywhere, he steps to leg and smashes the ball over extra cover and it keeps on traveling. The fireworks start on top of the scoreboard and they've been going off in the middle for some time.

18.4 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, Shiver me timbers! Broad goes round the wicket, bowls a filthy wide full toss and Yuvraj steers it over backward point and it clears the rope again.

18.5 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, down on one knee and larruped over midwicket, that one was more nine iron, it went into the night sky and dropped with a thud in the jubilant crowd. England have a team meeting.

Broad looks quizzical and miserable. Can he, can Yuvraj do it. Broad looks like a man who knows he is about to be mauled again.

18.6 Broad to Yuvraj Singh, SIX, and he has, Yuvraj leans back and smacks that over wide mid-on. It was the maximum from the moment it left that bat and the crowd was roaring as it flew.

The left-hander's feat in the 19th over gave him the fastest 50 in the tournament off just 12 balls, eight deliveries less than what Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful achieved against the West Indies.

Yuvraj finished with 58 off 16 balls with seven sixes and three boundaries as India set England a formidable target of 11 runs an over at a Kingsmead stadium overflowing with joyous Indian fans.

India, who lost their first match to New Zealand, must beat England and South Africa on Thursday to stay in contention for the semi-finals from group E.

New Zealand and South Africa top the group with two wins each, while England have already been knocked out of the semi-final race after losing their first two matches.

Yuvraj's blistering knock came after openers Virender Sehwag and Gambhir set the platform with a 136-run stand by the 15th over.

Sehwag made 68 off 52 balls with three sixes and four boundaries. His Delhi team-mate Gambhir hit 58 off 41 balls with seven fours and a six.

Gambhir began the run glut in the fifth over by smashing Broad over the mid-wicket fence for the first six of the innings.

Sehwag welcomed Dimitri Mascarenhas into the attack by slicing a six over point and cut Chris Tremlett over third man for his second big shot.

Sehwag's third six was over point against England captain Paul Collingwood in the 10th over, two balls after Mascarenhas floored a skier at third man.

Tremlett broke the partnership in the 15th over when he bowled Sehwag as the batsman went for a wild heave.

Two more wickets fell in the next two overs as Darren Maddy had Gambhir caught at short third man and Tremlett bowled Robin Uthappa in his fourth and final over.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

2009-02-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

Full name Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Born July 7, 1981, Ranchi, Bihar
Current age 24 years 100 days
Major teams India, Jharkhand
Also known as Mahi
Batting style Right-hand bat
Fielding position Wicketkeeper

The spectacular arrival of Virender Sehwag was bound to inspire others to bat with the same mindset. But the odds of a clone emerging from the backwaters of Jharkhand, whose state side has consistently scraped the bottom, was highly remote. That was until Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived. He can be swashbuckling with the bat and secure with the wicketkeeping gloves. His neck-length hair adds to his dash. Though Dhoni made his first-class debut in the 1999-2000 season, it was only in 2004 that he became a serious contender for national selection with some stirring performances when the occasion demanded - a rapid hundred which helped East Zone clinch the Deodhar Trophy and an audacious 60 in the Duleep Trophy final. But it was with his two centuries against Pakistan A, in the triangular tournament in Kenya, that he established himself as a clinical destroyer of bowling attacks. In just his fifth one-dayer, against Pakistan at Vishakapatnam, he cracked a dazzling 148 and for a while even put Sehwag in the shade

Cricket: India names Dhoni to one-day captaincy

Mahendra Singh Dhoni took a huge step toward one of the biggest jobs in world cricket on Tuesday when he was named captain of India for its series of one-day matches against Australia and Pakistan, to be played over the next two months.

Dhoni, 26, who is leading India in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, can make a strong case for also taking charge of the five-day test team if he performs well in the one-day matches. The job carries the pressure of meeting the expectations of India's huge population for its highest-profile national sport but also the prospect of great wealth.

India's next five-day series, against Pakistan, does not start until Nov. 22. The alternative to Dhoni is believed to be Sachin Tendulkar, India's greatest contemporary cricketing hero, who was only moderately successful when he captained the team in 25 tests from 1996 to 2002.

India's chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar, said of Dhoni, "He is a good captain, and this is the right time to groom him."

Dhoni's ferocious middle-order hitting has given him a high media profile and made him a highly effective one-day player. At one time, he was rated the best one-day international batsman in the world.

The main risk in appointing him to the five-day role would be that he is also a wicket-keeper, carrying an immense physical and psychological weight as the only man actively engaged in every single delivery in opposition innings that often extend over more than a day's play.

The vacancy was created by Rahul Dravid's resignation last week. World Cup years always bring their crop of captaincy changes. Inzamam ul-Haq and Brian Lara stepped down as captains of Pakistan and West Indies; Habibul Bashar lost the leadership of Bangladesh; and England finally concluded that Michael Vaughan's undoubted leadership qualities were outweighed by his limitations as a player in the shorter form of the game.

Saurav Ganguly

2009-02-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

Sourav Chandidas Ganguly Statistics
Born: 8 July 1972, Calcutta
Major Teams: Bengal, India, Lancashire.
Known As: Sourav Ganguly
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium

Profile:

Saurav Ganguly, the Prince of Calcutta has a fan following of millions and that is justified considering the number of winning knocks he has played for India. His batting is the perfect blend of elegance and power. He has all the traditional stylethat goes with left handed batsmanship. He is also a superb/ perfect timer of the ball. The manner in which he steps out and pounces on the ball, like a tiger on a hapless prey, is something to be enjoyed on the spot.
He is one of the most aggressive Captain India has ever had and has emerged as one thekey components of the Indian team. His ability to play shots on the off side is special because there are very few players who can hit the ball in that area as crisply as he does. He is an aggressive left-handed batsman and is also an effective (right-handed) medium pace bowler. He tarted his international career as a 19 year old during the tour to Australia in 1991-92 where both his ability and attitude was questioned. His recall for the 1996 tour to England was severely criticised as
one of the evils of India's "quota" system. But he answered that in style by not only scoring centuries in his first two Test innings but also capturing vital wickets to bag the Man of the series award. Still he was considered fit only for the Test matches because of his inability to play onside strokes. He worked on that problem and became a household name in India after the Sahara Cup in Toronto where he won several matches for India against Pakistan. Besides several superlative batting performance (including 75* in 75 balls), he exploited the conditions to
return some excellent bowling figures (including 5-16). He is often criticised for his running between the wickets and if he works on that, the way he has worked on his leg-side then he will definitely become a formidable force in the World of Cricket

Rahul Dravid

2009-02-20T01:02:00.000-08:00

Full name Rahul Sharad Dravid
Born January 11, 1973, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Major teams India, Scotland, ACC Asian XI, ICC World XI, Karnataka, Kent
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Career statistics

Test debut England v India at Lord's - Jun 20-24, 1996
ODI debut India v Sri Lanka at Singapore - Apr 3, 1996
First-class span 1990/91 - 2005/06
List A span 1992/93 - 2005/06

Profile:

Rahul Dravid, a cricketer who seamlessly blends an old-world classicism with a new-age professionalism, is the best No. 3 batsman to play for India - and might even be considered one of the best ever by the time his career is done. He already averages around 60 at that position, more than any regular No. 3 batsman in the game's history, barring Don Bradman. Unusually for an Indian batsman, he also averages more overseas - around 60, again - than at home. But impressive as his statistics are, they cannot represent the extent of his importance to India, or the beauty of his batsmanship. When Dravid began playing Test cricket, he was quickly stereotyped as a technically correct player capable of stonewalling against the best attacks - his early nickname was 'The Wall' - but of little else. As the years went by, though, Dravid, a sincere batsman who brought humility and a deep intelligence to his study of the game, grew in stature, finally reaching full blossom under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy. As a New India emerged, so did a new Dravid: first, he put on the wicketkeeping gloves in one-dayers, and transformed himself into an astute finisher in the middle-order; then, he strung together a series of awe-inspiring performances in Test matches, as India crept closer and closer to their quest of an overseas series win. Dravid's golden phase began, arguably, in Kolkata 2001, with a supporting act, when he made 180 to supplement VVS Laxman's classic effort of 281 against Australia. But from then on, Dravid became India's most valuable player, saving them Tests at Port Elizabeth, Georgetown and Trent Bridge, winning them Tests at Headlingley, Adelaide, Kandy and Rawalpindi. At one point during this run, he carved up four centuries in successive innings, and hit four double-centuries in the space of 15 Tests, including in historic away-wins at Adelaide and Rawalpindi. As India finished off the 2004 Pakistan tour on a winning note, on the back of Dravid's epic 270, his average crept past Sachin Tendulkar's - and it seemed no aberration. Dravid's amazing run was no triumph of substance over style, though, for he has plenty of both. A classical strokeplayer who plays every shot in the book, he often outscores team-mates like Tendulkar and Laxman in the course of partnerships with them, and while his pulling and cover-driving is especially breathtaking, he has every other shot in the book as well. He is both an artist and a craftsman, repeatedly constructing innings that stand out not merely for the beauty of their execution, but for the context in which they come. By the time he entered his 30s, Dravid was already in the pantheon of great Indian batsmen, alongside Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. In October 2005, he was appointed captain the one-day side, began with a thumping 6-1 hammering of Sri Lanka in a home series, and was soon given responsibility of the Test side as well, taking over from the controversy-shrouded Sourav Ganguly.

Virender Shewag

2008-10-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Virender Sehwag Statistics
Born: 20 October 1978, Delhi
Major Teams: Delhi, India.
Known As: Virender Shewag
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break

Profile:
A hard hitting batsman and a more than useful off spinner, Virender Shewag made a disastrous debut against Pakistan at Mohali in the Pepsi Cup. After having got out for a single he was hammered for 35 runs in the three overs that he bowled. He was then short listed among the 19 probables for the 1999 World Cup in England but did not make the final squad. Shewag has been a mainstay in the Delhi Ranji Trophy team since the 1998-99 season. A powerful hitter of the ball, he aggregated 745 runs during the 1998-99 Ranji Trophy season with three centuries and followed it up with 674 runs in the 1999-2000 edition of the competition.

Shewag made a strong comeback to the Indian team during the Australia tour of India in 2000-01. In the first one-dayer at Bangalore, Shewag helped himself to a quick half century before scalping three crucial wickets to play a leading role in India's victory. Man of the match in the first one-dayer, Shewag was forced to miss the rest of the series with a fractured finger. But the last has not been heard of this stout hearted Delhi all rounder.

ODI Debut: India v Pakistan at Mohali, Pepsi Cup, 1998/99
Live India V Pakistan 2004 tour

NEW DELHI: The starry-minded not to mention starry eyed
would say swashbuckler Sehwag once again displayed a perfect
sense of timing. Thursday was akha teej , the day you can do
anything without consulting astrologers. Not just any akha teej ,
but apparently the most auspicious one in 70 years. And so,
shaadi manaane ko Sehwag chala . But everything associated
with Sehwag just has to be tempestous. And so, a downpour
duly engulfed Delhi, raising fears that the season's most awaited
match-up might be a washout. This day, though, there was going
to be no raining on the Nawab of Najafgarh's parade.
Staff at 9 Ashoka Road Arun Jaitley's residence and the wedding's
venue scurried around frantically. Fans of the pedestal kind
were pressed into service; the maroon satin and golden tissue
curtains dried and hung up again. Picture-perfection was restored,
the stage set for Jea Band from Red Fort to make a grand entry at
about 9 p m, huffing and puffing away to the sonorous strains of Bolo
Tara Ra Ra .The pandal at 9, Ashoka Road, Arun Jaitley’s residence
and the venue of Sehwag’s wedding. More photos But wait a minute,
where was the munda himself? Logon dhoondo dhoondo might
well have been played at this juncture, except that the band had
fallen silent. No, Sehwag hadn't been run out, just left behind
somewhere in the course of switching over from the mandatory
mare to a car. The waiting began. In between, BCCI chief Jagmohan
Dalmiya walked in and wished the couple an unbeaten century partnership.
Taaliyan, taaliyan . But still no sign of the groom. The band held its peace,
only bursting into Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai when local BJP leader
Vijay Goel marched in. Meanwhile, the guests gave the decor a dekko .
Nothing too fancy: lights on trees, a tastefully decorated stage
with golden drapes behind the thrones. The chairs were golden too,
with maroon cushions, flanked by two dull gold pillars bedecked with flowers,
prominently orchids, carnations, roses and birds of paradise,
reportedly brought in from Thailand
Contrary to reports of five-star spreads, the food was mostly
shuddh shakahari bharatiya bhojan with nary a foie gras or
caviar on bline in sight, provided by Dass Caterers of
R K Puram, who'd also catered the wedding of the bride's elder sister.
The look-around was interrupted by a blast of music.
Pretty Woman the Main Hoon Na version blared from the dance
floor set up in the lawn. Shortly thereafter, at around 10 pm,
Viru entered in a white Merc, wearing a colour-coordinated cream
churidar kurta . He charged straight for the dressing-room.
A quick changeover into a brown sherwani later, he was out
on the ground, ready to begin his new innings. Guests with a
sense of humour remarked upon the absence of a helmet.
And the ceremonies commenced.
All the hustle and bustle at night was a far cry from the
subdued atmosphere at Sehwag's house in Najafgarh earlier in the day.
Curtains were tightly drawn, doors and windows bolted,
and umpteen policemen patrolled the house on all sides.
There was a brief dance routine by cousins and friends.
The moment the music started, curious neighbours thronged
the entrance and climbed onto the rooftops for a glimpse.
A family visit to the local temple evoked a similiar response,
with enthusiastic onlookers scaling the walls and cheering and clapping wildly.
Viru didn't have a bat to raise in acknowledgment,
but he did smile and wave, all the while cutting a dashing
figure in grey sherwani and red bandhni turban.