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India tour Pakistan
- Samsung Cup 2004 |
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Sourav Ganguly at nets Ganguly's return leads to Indian opening
dilemma
 LAHORE: India are uncertain who will open the
innings in the deciding third Test against Pakistan next week with
Aakash Chopra likely to be dropped due to the return from a back
injury of captain Sourav Ganguly.
The 31-year-old Ganguly will be back at the helm in Rawalpindi and
his replacement for the first two Tests, Yuvraj Singh, is also
almost certain of making the team after a 59 in the first Test at
Multan and a blistering 112 in Lahore.
"Everyone knows Yuvraj will play," Ganguly said this week and,
though he did not specify who would be excluded, opener Chopra is
the weakest link in a batting order boasting Virender Sehwag, Rahul
Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman.
Critics are divided on who should be promoted up the order but
former captain Sunil Gavaskar feels wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel is
the man for the job after his unbeaten 62 in the second Test, which
Pakistan won by nine wickets to level the series 1-1.
"Parthiv's gumption will no doubt earn him a promotion to the
opening slot for the third Test so that Ganguly can come into the
11," Gavaskar, India's most successful opener, wrote in his weekly
newspaper column on Friday.
PROVED INVALUABLE
The 26-year-old Chopra, who made his debut against New Zealand at
Ahmedabad last year, had proved invaluable in India's surprise 1-1
Test series draw in Australia earlier this year.
But while he was praised for his ability to stay at the wicket for
long hours, he was criticised for failing to keep the scoreboard
moving.
Chopra's Test average over eight matches is just 28.13. In the
second Test at Lahore, he scored four and five in the two innings.
"Chopra, after his twin failures will unfortunately have to make
way, though he has played his part in the big scores that the others
have put up by being the anchor at the other end, " Gavaskar added.
One option is to ask Yuvraj to open.
The 22-year-old, who has played 94 one-day internationals, opened
for Punjab in domestic cricket this season to bolster his chances of
winning a regular Test slot after failing to break into the strong
middle-order.
But some experts feel having an irregular opening pair would be a
step back for India, who have tried 41 different combinations since
Gavaskar retired in 1987.
India are on their first full tour in Pakistan after a gap of 14
years due to political tensions between the two south Asian
neighbours, who have fought three wars with each other since
independence from Britain in 1947.
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