IT is exactly the team that played in the first two one dayers against Sri Lanka and there are no surprises there. The only person, in my opinion, whose position was a threat was Sreesanth’s – and he vindicated the selectors’ faith in him with an excellent performance in the 2nd ODI. Given the current form and performances of the players, this team is very close to the best team we could have picked – whether it is capable of winning the world cup or not is a completely different matter. I personally would have liked another batsman in the squad in place of Kumble or Sreesanth.
I think the selectors have done a good job and Dilip Vengsarkar & his bunch should be congratulated. There have already been a lot of complaints in the media about not giving people like Kaif and VVS Laxman, who have won matches for India in the past, a chance. Vengsarkar’s reply to one such question was –
“The last World Cup was four years ago. Now it’s 2007. I played in the 1987 World Cup, 1983 and 1979 also. Will you pick me?”
(When asked why Ashish Nehra, who was a match winner in the previous World cup wasn’t short listed)
Good one, Vengsarkar…
-Mahesh-
