There may not be the usual hype like when the Indian team is playing at home, but this series between the ‘A’ teams of India and the West Indies, beginning here on Sunday with a one-day game, is crucial.
Both set of players will be keen to impress their respective national selectors.
While the visitors are mostly fielding fresh faces, the focus of all eyes, as far as the Indian team is concerned, is skipper Yuvraj Singh. He would be keen to book a spot in Team India and a good show in this series will surely help.
India ‘A’ coach Lalchand Rajput said: “Yuvraj is keen to come back into the Indian team. His performance will back him. He is focused and has been playing well. He has worked hard and has the hunger to come back.
“There is cricket left in Yuvraj and he is a match-winner. He has gone through a lot but has worked hard to get back,” Rajput added.
Bowler Praveen Kumar and all-rounder Irfan Pathan have been ruled out of the one-day games due to injuries. Siddharth Kaul and Vinay Kumar will take their places. Unmukt Chand, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Sharma, Vinay Kumar and others would also be keen on a good show.
Rajput said, “This is an opportunity for seniors in the ‘A’ team to perform. The selectors are thinking about them and if you perform, you are in. Even for the others, this is one level below the senior team.”
Rajput is not taking the visiting team lightly. “We have seen how they play. We can’t take them lightly. They have three spinners and some good medium pacers. Overall, it is a good team. We would like to win and will go all out. The team is good and we will take a call on the eleven in the morning,” he added.
The visitors’ coach, Junior Bennett, is taking the series is crucial for them too. “It is very important for us and we hope to get a good result. It is a strong Indian team. It is good that some senior players are in the team because it will make the series competitive,” he said.
Bennett had a word of praise for skipper Kieran Powell, whom he feels could go on to captain the main side.
Powell, keen on a good show here, said: “I am coming out of injury and my aim is to get match fitness.” Meanwhile, V Jagadeesh has been included for the second and third four-day games.
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