Indian selectors named 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2009 starting from 22 September in South Africa. There is no big surprise except the inclusion of veteran batsman Rahul Dravid who got a recall to the ODI squad after two years.
However, India will miss the service of the hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag who is currently suffering from his shoulder injury. There is no doubt, Sehwag’s absence is a big blow to the Indian team whose performance was poor in the previous edition of the tournament in 2006. Indian team would also miss experienced pacer Zaheer Khan who is also injured out at the moment.
However, India does not lack quality opener as there are two well-established openers in the squad: Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik also has previous experience of opening for India. Indian batting line up still looks pretty strong in the presence of the likes of Gambhir, Tendulkar, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Raina and Dravid.
Spin department includes off spinner Harbhajan Singh and leg spinner Amit Mishra. All rounder Yusuf Pathan is another effective spinner in the squad.
India’s pace attack would lack experience in the absence of Zaheer Khan who has been enjoying some of his best time in cricket recently. Still, the squad has skilled pacers like Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh and Praveen Kumar. All rounder Abhishek Nayar, who got his maiden ODI call up for the West Indies tour last June, could add to India’s pace option with his left-hand medium pace.
The squad includes two all rounders: Yusuf Pathan and Abhishek Nayar- both of whom could contribute to India’s total score with their hard-hitting batting in the lower middle order. Reserve wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik is also capable of scoring big score, and thus, adding to India’s batting option in the top order.
Overall, the squad looks balanced, but still, it lacks strength both in batting and bowling in the absence of Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan.
Indian Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2009
MS Dhoni (Captain/wicketkeeper), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, RP Singh, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Karthik, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra and Abhishek Nayar.
