All-rounders will hold the key for Cup success: Vengsarkar by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

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Player:

DB Vengsarkar, IK Pathan, V Sehwag, SR Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh

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DateLine: 5th February 2007

 

Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar believes all-rounders will hold the key to success at the upcoming World Cup, and Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni could lend balance to the Indian middle order. In what could be music to Pathan's ears, Vengsarkar said the 22-year old, subject to his inclusion in the squad, coming in at number seven will strengthen the lower order batting and will also allow the team to play five specialist bowlers. "India has an advantage with a wicketkeeper-batsman like Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting at No. 6 and Irfan Pathan at No.7. But this is all subject to selection on 12th February (when the World Cup squad is to be picked)," Vengsarkar said. "The conditions in West Indies are similar to those in India. However, the importance of having all-rounders in the squad is crucial in one-day cricket, for not only the batting line-up gets the much required depth but an all-rounder could send down effective overs that matter in the ultimate analysis. In that respect, India can afford to play five bowlers. Besides, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag could send down useful overs," Vengsarkar said, emphasizing again that it was all subject to the players being chosen for the quadrennial extravaganza in March-April.