[harishankar]

There's a lot of talk on selection in the Indian media as the World Cup approaches. Almost every News channel has a dedicated programme to discuss and debate selection issues in the Indian Team. With increasing competition, it's obvious that certain players will be left out of the race - particularly with newcomers like Robin Uthappa staking a strong claim with two solid performances against the West Indies. Here, I'll list some of my "improbables" for the World Cup - players who are unlikely to make it in the final 15. Always a contentious issue, I'm sure these choices will be up for debate...

#1 - Dinesh Mongia
Chance of making it to the WC: 1 / 10

It appears that Dinesh Mongia will be squeezed out of the reckoning, thanks to the growing ranks of untested players who show immense potential and talent. Indian Selectors have always preferred to try out new talent in the last few years and the "tried-and-tested" failures have found it increasingly difficult to make it to the team. Dinesh Mongia, who figured in the previous WC squad, might fnd it extremely hard just to get another opportunity to prove himself, let alone figure as a contender in the already packed middle order of Indian batting. Dinesh Mongia is my #1 improbable. It will be extremely surprising, in my opinion, if he makes a comeback at this stage.

#2 - VVS Laxman
Chance of making it to the WC: 3 / 10

For a class batsman, his ODI career is something of a tragedy to all his fans. In my opinion he's India's finest middle order batsman after Rahul Dravid - scoring runs in adverse conditions when other top players like Tendulkar and Sehwag have failed - and yet his poor on-field mobility and his lack of all-round skills count against him in the shorter version of the game. Besides, his batting is more tuned to the longer version of the game, as he is not a guy who nudges and pushes around the ball for singles. While it would be a big mistake to count VVS Laxman out, I'm almost certain that he'll have to miss the World Cup bus. If he makes it, I'm sure it will be on the basis of experience, which still a role in selection issues.

#3 - Gautham Gambhir
Chance of making it to the WC: 5 / 10

He's one of those unfortunate cricketers in Indian cricket whose selection is more a matter of non-performance, unavailability or lack of fitness of other players than his own performances. His chances haven't improved either with yet another contender for the opening slot making a strong claim - Robin Uthappa. And with Virender Sehwag set to make a comeback before the World Cup, he will probably be squeezed out of a place in the top order. Like most people, he'll be wondering where he went wrong... and like so many other promising domestic cricketers, he'll probably be waiting for that elusive opportunity to cement his place in the Indian side for quite a while.

#4 - Suresh Raina
Chance of making it to the WC: 4 / 10

One of India's best fielders along with Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina might just find the return of Yuvraj Singh into full fitness and ODI form a blow to his chances. While he promised a lot with the bat initially, he's not been consistent enough to make the lower middle order spot of #6 or #7 his own and with Yuvraj being better than him in almost every aspect of the game, he might struggle to make a comeback to the Indian side. It only goes to prove that mere fielding ability does not guarantee a spot to any cricketer.

#5 - Mohammed Kaif
Chance of making it to the WC: 4 / 10

Mohammed Kaif will probably find it even more difficult to squeeze into a top-heavy Indian batting order, particularly considering that he cannot even bowl... If he makes it on the strength of his fantastic fielding, he will be under tremendous pressure to score some runs as that is his main role in the Indian side. Like Raina, he has fallen to the wayside in Indian Cricket for a while now and a comeback seems even more difficult for Kaif than for a guy like Raina. Once again, it might be the experience factor which might play a role if he does get picked ahead of other contenders for the lower middle order spot.

#6 - Romesh Powar
Chance of making it to the WC: 5 / 10

Romesh Powar's chances for the World Cup might be affected by two things. First of all, Kumble's return to the ODI reckoning will hurt his chances as the 3rd spinner badly. Secondly, with him not exactly being counted as an all-rounder (batting at #9, #10 or #11), he will not inspire the team with immense confidence if he's called on to bat. Surely a player who deserves a better deal, once again his own selection might not be in his hands as a variety of factors will come into play if he has to make it to the WC squad. Like Gautham Gambhir and a few others in the hunt for the WC spot, he will need a bit of luck going his way if he has to make it.

#7 - Munaf Patel
Chance of making it to the WC: 3 / 10

When he first entered the scenario, he was the most hyped Indian fast bowler who was yet to bowl a single ball in International Cricket. He was supposed to bowl at speeds above 90 mph regularly and was known to be accurate as well. Well, his recent lack of fitness and his abysmal performance in South Africa has put him (at least temporarily) out of contention. Munaf will be more fortunate than a couple of other players who've slipped up similarly in that he will get another opportunity to prove his form and fitness in the Sri Lanka Series just before the World Cup. But at the same time, he will be under immense pressure to perform and would need to do something exceptional to edge the likes of Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth to become India's #1 choice for a seam bowler. All in all, I don't fancy his chances of making it to the World Cup this time around.

#8 - Dinesh Karthik
Chance of making it to the WC: 5 / 10

Dinesh Karthik will always be struggling for a place in the Indian side. As a wicket-keeper, he knows that his primary goal is to be India's #1 keeper of choice. But at least in the shorter variety of the game, he will always have to play second fiddle to Mahendra Dhoni. The one thing he has going for him is his extremely positive attitude (as he displayed in the tour of South Africa) and the fact that the selectors might opt for a reserve keeper for the World Cup. This time round, I doubt whether Rahul Dravid would seriously want to keep wickets if something happens to Dhoni in the middle of the World Cup, so he might *just* make it to the final 15. As far as the WC goes, would the selectors want the luxury of a second keeper? That is the biggest question...

#9 - VRV Singh
Chance of making it to the WC: 1 / 10

After a pretty decent tour of South Africa, VRV Singh has been left in the lurch as far as ODI cricket goes. While he is still has an outside chance of making it to the WC squad if one of the senior bowlers get seriously injured in the lead up to it, he still would find it pretty hard to compete against the likes of RP Singh, Munaf Patel and Joginder Sharma. He is also not the greatest fielder around and he takes pretty long to warm up to his full speed while bowling, so VRV Singh might just remain in the reckoning for Test Cricket. I, for one, don't fancy his chances in the shorter version of the game. And in the hectic build-up to the WC, I don't think he's exactly in the foreground in the selectors' vision.

#10 - Joginder Sharma
Chance of making it to the WC: 2 / 10

Poor Joginder Sharma is another of those less talented but hard-working cricketers who always seem to find it hard to make it to the Indian side. As an all-rounder, he has a lot going for him in a side that lacks genuine all-rounders, but the only question here is - how talented an all-rounder is he? In his limited opportunity he sure didn't show anything special, but then again it's so hard to judge cricketers based on a couple of performances. Sadly, the story for Joginder Sharma is likely to be that he might remain on the fringes of Indian cricket for a long time unless he does something spectacular in a single match. Such cricketers tend not to catch the eye of the selectors and after Robin Singh, we've lacked a hard-working, committed batting all-rounder in the Indian One Day side. Surely Joginder will find it hard to make it to the World Cup, but his opportunities will come in ODI cricket and it is for him to make a name for himself with something remarkable.

Conclusion

All in all, I've tried to cover as much ground as possible. There are surely other deserving cricketers who might not make it to the Indian World Cup squad (who are also in the probables list). The problem with many "come-back" cricketers is that in Indian Cricket, they have a very hard time fighting the newcomers. Indeed 9 out of 10 times, the newcomers are preferred because they bring fresh youthful energy into the side without all the excessive baggage of failure and the immense pressure to perform.

It will indeed be interesting to note how many of these "improbables" would actually figure in the World Cup squad. The players most likely to make it from the list are Dinesh Karthik, Gautham Gambhir and Mohammed Kaif. Probably even Romesh Powar has a decent chance to make the WC squad. The biggest question in my mind is this: will VVS Laxman make it or not? Will be an extremely interesting selection meeting in the 11th of February.

I sure don't want to be an Indian selector. It's a thankless job and a heartless one as well, because so many promising cricketers will have to fall to the wayside to make way for the best in the business.

[surendar]

Excellent article

Regarding Laxman, he is more comfortable when the ball comes to bat nicely.. I don't think Windies pitch might suit him in ODIs.I completely agree with Karthik..promising player but have to struggle to find his place!

Nice one Hari!

[harishankar]

Thanks Surender. Much as I like Laxman and appreciate his great Test innings, he doesn't look like getting back into the ODI side... As for Kaif, he'll now have to compete with a lot of players for that lower middle order spot. He has a chance only if India want to play an extra batsman at #7, which I doubt seriously with Dhoni and Pathan adding so much balance to the ODI side.

[aditya123]

I do not agree with Munaf there.
He should be and most probable will be preferred ahead of Sreesanth.
Munaf`s accuracy will be a must for the WC.

Sreesanth is a big gamble, especially for a world cup.

[harishankar]

Just two bad performances from Sreesanth and you write him off? Actually I think he'll be a dangerous ODI bowler. The few times he did control his swing, he looked quite effective. Also he has more pace than Munaf and his attitude is far more aggressive. We need wicket-taking bowlers like him to complement the steady efforts of Zaheer Khan.

As for Munaf making it to the WC, I think he'll need to do something special in the Sri Lankan series like a 5-wicket haul, because I don't think the Indian team management have forgotten his performance in the last Test in South Africa.

I have a feeling that if Chappell and Dravid had to prefer one of the two, they'd go with Sreesanth simply because he showed so much heart in South Africa. Sure, the conditions won't be the same in the West Indies, but certainly Sreesanth brings a bit of teeth into the attack with his attitude of aggression.

[aditya123]

Originally Posted by harishankar

Just two bad performances from Sreesanth and you write him off? Actually I think he'll be a dangerous ODI bowler. The few times he did control his swing, he looked quite effective. Also he has more pace than Munaf and his attitude is far more aggressive. We need wicket-taking bowlers like him to complement the steady efforts of Zaheer Khan.

As for Munaf making it to the WC, I think he'll need to do something special in the Sri Lankan series like a 5-wicket haul, because I don't think the Indian team management have forgotten his performance in the last Test in South Africa.

I have a feeling that if Chappell and Dravid had to prefer one of the two, they'd go with Sreesanth simply because he showed so much heart in South Africa. Sure, the conditions won't be the same in the West Indies, but certainly Sreesanth brings a bit of teeth into the attack with his attitude of aggression.

It is not just one or two performances, he has always been a very expensive ODI bowler (even in the Challenger Series )
In this case, it is you who are writing Munaf off just after ` that` one test match in SA.
He has a lot to offer to the side, though his fielding has a left a lot to be desired.
Munaf, although does not look to be putting effort while bowling, can extract bounce from any wicket and he usually gets top players out.
He can crank up the pace to 145kph when in good rhythm.

He is not a multi-skilled cricketer though.

[harishankar]

It's really a tough call. But Munaf has been criticized a lot by the experts for his poor attitude...

However I think he'll get an opportunity in the Sri Lanka series, so it's really up to him to grab it with both hands.

As for Sreesanth, I think if he learns to control the new ball, he'll be quite a handful in humid conditions where the ball is likely to swing in the air. And yes, the white ball does have exaggerated swing too...

[gamerkid22]

Sreesanth is good in test matches but he is a big gamble in the ODI's . Raina is a good fielder no doubt about that but he has failed with the bat instead of getting many opportunities .

[surendar]

For Munaf, he has the great capacity to maintain the stump-stump line which is tough in ODIs to get rid off! It depends on Lankan series how he bowls rather than picking wickets!

But it will be a close in decision to select Sree or Munaf! Becos, Zaheer,Pathan n Ajit shd be making it easily. So anyone of Sree or Munaf might make it end!

I have a feeling Sree might get dropped. After all he was dropped in CT inspite of being in gud form that time. So i just have a feeling Munaf might make it but as i said, it will be a close decision!

[harishankar]

Yeah, it's a 50-50 decision. It's a matter of judgement for the selectors - do they prefer a steady line-and-length bowler or an aggressive wicket-taker who might also go for runs? I think the final call will hinge on that aspect.

[icyman]

Steady line and length bowler - Munaf Patel
Aggresive wicket taker[costly]- Sreesanth- going for runs also

I believe that India's pace attack will be lead by Zaheer and Agarkar.
Irfan would be the first choice.

In the Windies,Munaf would be a very good option.not only coz he bowls a staedy line,but coz he even has the ability to take wickets.
Sreesanth is an indisciplined and over-hyped brat.Rather he cannot control his emotions .Also,he tends to go for runs and has a lot to learn to earn a WC place.
He'd be there in 2011 but definately not in 2007.

All those who heard Dravid's press-confo after the Windies series would know that he mentioned that Sree needs to learn a lot.

Next comes the topic of the keeper.
If Dhoni is injured,Dravid will have to keep wickets assuming that neither Uthappa nor Kaarthick is selected for the WC.
Bear in mind that Uthappa,apart from being an explosive bat,is also a good keeper.
So the Indians will be carrying 4 keepers with them.
The fielding would also be good,given that Karthick has good reflexes and so does Uthappa.

[manee]

Another ridiculously brilliant article there.

I believe Munaf has a higher chance than you said to make it into the World Cup team, although he is lazy and fails to achieve anything near his potential pace, he seemed to always pick up two wickets per match in ODIs prior to South Africa.

[harishankar]

Well apart from the Munaf/Sreesanth debate, who else do you guys think will be in the "improbables" list? I'm interested in your opinions...

[manee]

Virender Sehwag!

Failure to perform on the Sri Lanka series would surely be the last straw for the indian selectors and could see him being a shock omission from the World Cup team.

[icyman]

Nah,i just dont think so ...
If failure in SL series would be the final straw for Sehwag,it should be for Yuvraj also