Ganguly to open with Gambhir by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

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Player:	SC Ganguly, G Gambhir, SR Tendulkar, RS Dravid, J Sharma, RP Singh, RV Uthappa
Event:	West Indies in India 2006/07

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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.