India pick proven stars for World Cup

India tried, tested players for World Cup even despite many injury worries in team.

NEW DEHLI: India selected a tried and trusted combination for the World Cup despite injury worries over key players, including batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, the world’s leading Test and One-Day International (ODI) batsman, pulled out of the ongoing tour of South Africa after suffering a hamstring strain. Tendulkar’s absence for the remaining ODIs further depleted India, who are already missing the injured trio of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Praveen Kumar.

But all four were named in a 15-man squad for the World Cup, which opens on February 19 with India playing the first match against co-hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka. Tendulkar has played just four ODIs over the past 12 months to preserve himself for Test cricket.

“I am not worried at all about the injuries, these are part of the game,” said chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth. “I’m confident the team will be fit when the World Cup starts. This is the best team we could have picked.”

The selectors banked on players who have taken India to second place behind Australia in the ODI rankings, ahead of Sri Lanka, South Africa and England. The eight batsmen in the squad include captain MS Dhoni and the hard-hitting Yusuf Pathan, but there was no place for Rohit Sharma.

The only surprise choice was leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who played the last of his 21 ODIs more than two years ago. Chawla, who has claimed 28 ODI wickets, will be joined by Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, in a three-man spin department.

The squad includes four seam bowlers in Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel.

Squad

MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2011.