He's fast, he's accurate and he doesn't give an inch. Zaheer Khan is India's first genuine fast bowler after Javagal Srinath and in his short international career has already impressed one and all with his talent, temperament and aggression. The left arm quickie represents Baroda at the domestic level and played a stellar role in his team's triumph in the final of this season's Ranji Trophy, grabbing five all-important second innings wickets. Zaheer's strength lies in his ability to get early wickets and break the back of the opposition's batting order. He's also proficient with the old ball, with reverse swing an important asset in his armoury.
Hemang Badani
Hemang Badani's selection in the Indian team ahead of Vinod Kambli last year had raised a number of eyebrows. Sure he's gifted, but does he have the temperament, his critics asked? In just over fifteen games at the international level, Badani would like to believe that he has answered his critics and silenced his detractors.
The Tamil Nadu lad first impressed with his steely temperament in the one-day series against Zimbabwe when he cracked a couple of match-winning half centuries under pressure cooker conditions. He followed up these efforts with a swashbuckling hundred versus the mighty Australians at Pune and a couple of other useful knocks in the same series.
Badani's good form of late has made him a serious claimant for the void left by Ajay Jadeja in the Indian middle order, ahead of Kambli and others like Virender Shewag. He is also reminiscent of Jadeja in the running between wickets and fielding departments, where he is simply brilliant. But what is even more exciting is that Badani, unlike Jadeja, has the technique to back him at the Test level as well, and this can augur only well for Indian cricket.
Reetinder Singh Sodhi
A dashing lower order batsman and a menacing medium pacer, Reetinder Singh Sodhi stormed onto the domestic scene after leading India's Under-15 side to victory in the Lombard Junior World Challenge in England in '96. Since then, he has been a consistent performer for his home state Punjab in the Ranji Trophy both with bat and ball with best efforts of 200*(vs Delhi at Patiala) and 5-30 respectively. Sodhi has played for India (including two half centuries) but is yet to cement his place in the squad. Many feel that he has not been given adequate chances by the wise men of Indian cricket and that he is a victim of wayward selection policies. But all this hasn't affected the young Sikh; he is as determined as ever and would like to believe that at a time when all rounders are a rare commodity in Indian cricket, a permanent place in the Indian eleven is not very far away.
Mohammed Kaif
Mohammed Kaif made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 1997-98 season for Uttar Pradesh and his consistent performances with the bat at this level together with his handy off spin won him a berth in the national team in a relatively short span of time. His elegant strokeplay and ability under pressure has already won admirers at the highest level and it would be very surprising if he isn't a regular face in the Indian squad in the years to come.
Kaif was first noticed in the Lombard World Challenge (U-15), but really made his mark as captain of the Indian team which lifted the Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in early 2000. Later that year, he won a place in the India A team which toured the Caribbean and was impressive with some solid performances in unfamiliar conditions.
Kaif is only twenty and along with Reetinder Singh Sodhi is a very bright prospect for India in the years to come.
courtesy by...
SAGAR RESTUARANT
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Sagar Restaurant offers an extensive choice We provide 100% halal meat.of traditional Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian cuisine together with new mouthwatering recipes, but if you have a preferred dish that isn't on the menu, please don't hesitate to ask the management who will be more than happy to have our chef specially prepare it for you. |
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