A balanced squad

Selectorial vicissitudes were emphatically cast aside as the five wise men of Indian cricket met on Monday to pick the 15 players entrusted with the responsibility of regaining the World Cup the country last won in 1983. It was expected to be an easy, brief and non-contentious meeting, and so it turned out to be, at the end of which K Srikkanth’s panel came up with a balanced, most-bases-covered squad that represents the cream of the talent in the country. India play all their matches, except the tournament opener in Mirpur, on home patch, and the 15-man team is perfectly equipped to go the distance. Perhaps, Piyush Chawla’s inclusion and the absence of back-up of any kind for wicket-keeper Dhoni are the only points of debate.

The team management’s faith in Chawla’s leg-spin, untested on the international stage for two and a half years, is a gamble of sorts. The lone purveyor of wrist spin, Chawla is a handy batsman too and might jostle with the hard-hitting Yusuf Pathan for the number seven slot as India strive to strike a balance between batting might and bowling necessities.

India might have discovered a street-smart way to compensate for not picking a second wicket-keeper by getting him to accompany the team in a non-official capacity, though some might view it as defeating the very purpose behind naming a 15-man team. By overlooking the need for a back-up stumper, India have been able to pick the two spinners in Chawla and R Ashwin, who has impressed enormously with his heart and his craft in a brief international career.

A majority of this squad has been together for a while now. There is a wonderful understanding and camaraderie within the group so essential for success in a tournament as drawn-out and as high-profile as the World Cup. Playing on home turf will be a double-edged sword. While familiarity with conditions and the support of a massive fan base will add cricketing and psychological value, the team can so easily be weighed down by the burden of expectations from a populace that has recently grown accustomed to the success of the national team. India has no doubt given itself the best chance to win the World Cup on home soil.