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17-Sep-2009 11:19:00 GMT
Preview by Ashok Sharma

India - Team Preview For Champions Trophy

New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India will be keen to maintain their consistency to fulfill their fans' expectations at the Champions Trophy starting in South Africa next week.

India disappointed in the tournament's last edition at home in 2006 when they failed to qualify for the semi-finals, but have given their fans plenty to cheer about with their recent successes.

They won five successive bilateral one-day series twice against Sri Lanka and once each against England, the West Indies and New Zealand and saw off Sri Lanka again in a Tri-nations series which finished on Monday (Sep 14).

India will be without explosive opener Virender Sehwag and key paceman Zaheer Khan, but Kirsten said the team still had the resources to give a good account of themselves in South Africa.

The Indian batting looks formidable despite Sehwag's absence as Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Dhoni are all capable of playing match-winning roles with their exciting stroke-making.

The spotlight will be on middle-order batsman Rahul Dravid, who has just returned to the one-side after nearly two years. He is known for building an innings under pressure, having already scored more than 10,000 one-day runs.

Gautam Gambhir keeps alive India's chances of making a brisk start as he has been in a fine touch.

He is likely to open the innings with Tendulkar, the world's leading scorer in international cricket. Tendulkar, playing international cricket for nearly 20 years, will again be the key for his ability to play according to the situation and inspire confidence in others.

Nehra, who impressed in the West Indies and Sri Lanka in recent series, and fellow-pacemen Ishant Sharma and Rudra Pratap Singh are all capable of providing early breakthroughs, which are essential to seize the advantage.

India have a specialist spinner in Harbhajan Singh who can keep the batsmen under check with his tidy off-spin. Part-time spinners Yuvraj, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan fully supports to Bhajji.

India straightaway step into a high-pressure situation in South Africa when they clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match, hoping their consistency will see them through.

India Squad

S# Player DOB Matches Batting Bowling
7
MS Dhoni (c)
7 July 1981
139
Right
wicket-keeper
19
Rahul Dravid
11 January 1973
333
Right
Right arm off break
5
Gautam Gambhir
14 October 1981
78
Left
Right arm leg break
3
Harbhajan Singh
3 July 1980
189
Right
Right arm off break
99
Dinesh Karthik
1 June 1985
30
Right
wicket-keeper
8
Praveen Kumar
2 October 1986
24
Right
Right arm medium pace
N/A
Amit Mishra
24 November 1982
3
Right
Right arm leg break
N/A
Abhishek Nayar
8 October 1983
2
Left
Right arm medium pace
64
Ashish Nehra
29 April 1979
76
Right
Left arm medium-fast
28
Yusuf Pathan
17 November 1982
26
Right
Right arm off break
N/A
Suresh Raina
27 November 1986
65
Left
Right arm off break
29
Ishant Sharma
2 September 1988
30
Right
Right arm fast
9
R. P. Singh
6 December 1985
51
Right
Left arm fast-medium
10
Sachin Tendulkar
24 April 1973
425
Right
Right arm leg break/off break
12
Yuvraj Singh
12 December 1981
236
Left
Slow left arm orthodox

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