Ganguly to open with Gambhir
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 21st January 2007
It will be the left-handed combination of Sourav Ganguly and Gautam
Gambhir that will open the Indian innings in the first of the four
one-day internationals against the West Indies at the Vidarbha Cricket
Association ground in Nagpur on Sunday. The decision had been taken
keeping in mind that the middle-order will be crucial for India's
chances at the World Cup in the Caribbean and Sachin Tendulkar's
experience would come in handy in this regard, skipper Rahul Dravid
said at a media conference before the match.
"The team needs to cover all eventualities and we think the
middle-order will be key at the World Cup," Dravid said, adding that
Tendulkar had agreed to bat down the order. The team also had to
prepare for the possible non-availability of Yuvraj Singh as the Punjab
left-hander is recuperating from an ankle injury sustained during the
Champions Trophy last year.
Dravid also announced the 12 players shortlisted for Sunday’s game,
with all-rounder Joginder Sharma, left-arm seamer RP Singh and
Karnataka batsman Robin Uthappa being left out.
