Click here for more on this story Posted: Tuesday May 11, 1999 10:39 PM Indian Squad Mohammad Azharuddin (captain) Ajay Jadeja Saurav Ganguly Sachin Tendulkar Sadagopan Ramesh Rahul Dravid Robin Singh Nayan Mongia (wicketkeeper) Ajit Agarkar Anil Kumble Javagal Srinath Venkatesh Prasad Nikhil Chopra Amay Khurasia Debasis Mohanty Mohammad Azharuddin Full name: Mohammad Azharuddin (captain) Known as: Mohammad Azharuddin Born: Feb. 8, 1963. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Derbyshire, Hyderabad One-Day Debut: vs. England at Bangalore, Third ODI, 1984/85 One-Day Matches: 315 Total Runs: 8,949 Average Score: 37.60 Highest Score: 153* Total Wickets: 12 Runs per wicket: 39.91 Best Result: 3-19 Azharuddin is India’s most successful one-day and test captain. He set a world record by scoring a century in each of his first three tests. After losing his captaincy to Sachin Tendulkar in 1997 he was dropped from the squad, but was reinstated to the team and took over the reins of captain again in 1998. Azharuddin has 312 one-day international appearances, a world record. Ajay Jadeja Full name: Ajaysingh Jadeja Known as: Ajay Jadeja Born: Feb 1, 1971. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Haryana One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Mackay, World Cup, 1991/92 One-Day Matches: 164 Total Runs: 4,361 Average Score: 36.34 Highest Score: 119 Total Wickets: 19 Runs per wicket: 56.15 Best Result: 3-3 Belongs to the family of Ranjitsinhji, the Indian prince who played for England 100 years ago. An energetic batsman and agile fielder. Jadeja normally opens the India one-day innings with Tendulkar. Jadeja is often found at backward point. Was an inspired captain in the recent Sharjah tournament while Azharuddin was injured. Saurav Ganguly Full name: Saurav Chandidas Ganguly Known as: Saurav Ganguly Born: July 8, 1972. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Bengal One-Day Debut: vs. West Indies at Brisbane, World Series, 1991/92 One-Day Matches: 99 Total Runs: 3.509 Average Score: 40.80 Highest Score: 130* Total Wickets: 32 Runs per wicket: 36.46 Best Result: 5-16 Stylish opener called the "Bengal Tiger" for his mix of grace and power. India's best batting bet after Tendulkar and a medium-pacer with knack of breaking established partnerships. His international career began disastrously at age 19 against Australia, where his attitude and ability were questioned. His recall in 1996 for the tour of England was criticized as one of the main drawbacks of India’s “quota” system. He went on to score two centuries in his first two test innings as was named Man of the Series. However, until his dashing performances at the Sahara Cup in Toronto he was considered a test match cricketer. Sachin Tendulkar Full name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Known as: Sachin Tendulkar Born: April 24, 1973. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm slow-medium bowler Played for: India, Yorkshire, Bombay One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Gujranwala, Second ODI, 1989/90 One-Day Matches: 211 Total Runs: 7,801 Average Score: 42.39 Highest Score: 143 Total Wickets: 78 Runs per wicket: 46.73 Best Result: 5-32 Balance, timing, perfect placement and a full range of strokes make him currently one of the world's best batsman. He was the leading run-scorer in the 1996 World Cup with a total of 523 runs, although the runs were scored predominantly on Indian pitches. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers rankings, Tendulkar enters the World Cup ranked the second best one-day international batsman in the world. Although only 26, Tendulkar is a 10-year veteran of the Indian team. One of India’s former captains, Tendulkar relinquished that duty in 1998, although he has retained his captaincy of the Bombay team. Tendulkar has been likened to the legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, due to both his stature and style of batting. Sadagopan Ramesh Full name: Sadagopan Ramesh Known as: Sadagopan Ramesh Born: Oct. 16, 1975. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Right-arm off-break Played for: India, Tamil Nadu One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Pune, Pepsi Cup, 1998/1999 One-Day Matches: 7 Total Runs: 189 Average Score: 27.00 Highest Score: 82 Total Wickets: -- Runs per wicket: -- Best Result: -- A relative newcomer to the Indian squad, Ramesh is an opener capable of bold strokes who made his mark in the recent Sharjah tournament. In his first test series against Pakistan he scored a total of 496 runs in four tests (eight innings), showing a sense of timing. He tends to be lazy in his footwork and will have to adjust his game in England. Rahul Dravid Full name: Rahul Dravid Known as: Rahul Dravid Born: Jan. 11, 1973. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm off-break Played for: India, Karnataka One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Singapore, Singer Cup, 1995/96 One-Day Matches: 80 Total Runs: 2,367 Average Score: 34.80 Highest Score: 123* Total Wickets: 1 Runs per wicket: 92 Best Result: 1-21 Reliable, wristy test batsman who has blossomed late in limited-overs cricket. Dravid depends upon timing rather than force to make his shots. He scored two half-centuries in India's wins over England and Pakistan in Sharjah -- he was run out both times. On India’s tour of England in 1996, Dravid proved to be one of the few batsman able to cope with the conditions. A sharp close-in fielder. Robin Singh Full name: Rabindra Ramanarayan Singh Known as: Robin Singh Born: Sept. 14, 1963. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Tamil Nadu One-Day Debut: vs. West Indies at Port-of-Spain, Third ODI, 1988/89 One-Day Matches: 80 Total Runs: 1,338 Average Score: 27.30 Highest Score: 100 Total Wickets: 46 Runs per wicket: 43.78 Best Result: 5-22 This Trinidad-born all-rounder ironically debuted against the West Indies in Trinidad. Although Singh played his first one-day international in 1988 he only made his test debut in 1998 against Zimbabwe. After his initial unremarkable one-day appearances, Singh was overlooked by the Indian selectors until the 1996/1997 Titan Cup. Since then he has been a regular in the one-day squad, often contributing useful runs in the lower middle order, fielding well and bowling tightly. Nayan Mongia Full name: Nayan Ramlal Mongia (wicketkeeper) Known as: Nayan Mongia Born: Dec. 19, 1969. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Baroda One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Rajkot, First ODI, 1993/94 One-Day Matches: 132 Total Runs: 1,222 Average Score: 20.71 Highest Score: 69 Catches: 101 Stumpings: 43 Mongia has served India well since replacing his Baroda teammate and captain Kiran More as wicketkeeper. Often rescues the side in batting collapses, the versatile Mongia has one of cricket's loudest and most persistent appeals. Ajit Agarkar Full name: Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar Known as: Ajit Agarkar Born: Dec. 4, 1977. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium-fast bowler Played for: India, Bombay One-Day Debut: vs. Australia at Kochi, Pepsi Triangular Series, 1997/98 One-Day Matches: 36 Total Runs: 215 Average Score: 14.33 Highest Score: 30 Total Wickets: 68 Runs per wicket: 24.35 Best Result: 4-35. After enjoying success on India A’s tour of Pakistan, Agarkar finally was approved into the one-day squad. His lean frame conceals a ferocious seamer who can move the ball both ways to get breakthrough wickets. A useful lower-order batsman. Anil Kumble Full name: Anil Kumble Known as: Anil Kumble Born: Oct. 17, 1970. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm leg-break (googly) Played for: India, Karnataka One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Australasia Cup, 1989/90 One-Day Matches: 167 Total Runs: 531 Average Score: 10.01 Highest Score: 24 Total Wickets: 224 Runs per wicket: 27.53 Best Result: 6-12 Brisk top-spinner, accuracy and disconcerting bounce are the main weapons of this sharp-thinking wrist spinner. In February, Kumble he became only the second bowler in 122 years of international cricket to take 10 wickets in one inning in a test match against Pakistan. Kumble’s biggest problem may be his lack of experience in England, although the damp pitches might be in his favor. Kumble was the leading bowler at the last World Cup, claiming 15 wickets in the tournament. Javagal Srinath Full name: Javagal Srinath Known as: Javagal Srinath Born: Aug. 31, 1969. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm fast bowler Played for: India, Gloucestershire, Karnataka One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Sharjah, Wills Trophy, 1991/92 One-Day Matches: 161 Total Runs: 678 Average Score: 11.49 Highest Score: 53 Total Wickets: 220 Runs per wicket: 27.80 Best Result: 5-23 Srinath is the fastest bowler on the Indian squad. Srinath's England experience may prove vital part to India’s World Cup hopes, he took 87 wickets in 15 county championship matches for Gloucestershire in 1995 but has been plagued by shoulder problems over the past few years. Venkatesh Prasad Full name: Bapu Krishnarao Venkatesh Prasad Known as: Venkatesh Prasad Born: Aug. 5, 1969. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium-fast bowler Played for: India, Karnataka One-Day Debut: vs. New Zealand at Christchurch, Fourth ODI, 1993/94 One-Day Matches: 111 Total Runs: 143 Average Score: 5.95 Highest Score: 19 Total Wickets: 134 Runs per wicket: 32.53 Best Result: 4-17 Prasad established his position in the Indian squad in the 1996 tour of England. Proven performer in English conditions who seams the ball both ways and forms a formidable opening attack with Srinath. India’s leading wicket taker in 1996, he appeared to lose form in 1997 and was rested thereafter for the tour of Sri Lanka. Nikhil Chopra Full name: Nikhil Chopra Known as: Nikhil Chopra Born: Dec. 26, 1973. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Off-spinner Played for: India, Delhi One-Day Debut: vs. Kenya at Gwalior, Coca-Cola Triangular Series, 1997/98 One-Day Matches: 14 Total Runs: 97 Average Score: 16.16 Highest Score: 39 Total Wickets: 10 Runs per wicket: 46.60 Best Result: 2-21 Bowls tight off-breaks without giving batsmen much room. A tall, combative batsman who can hit effectively in the closing overs. Amay Khurasia Full name: Amay Khurasia Known as: Amay Khurasia Born: May 18, 1972. Bats: Left-handed Bowls: Left-arm slow bowler Played for: India, Madhya Pradesh One-Day Debut: vs. Sri Lanka at Pune, Pepsi Cup, 1998/99 One-Day Matches: 4 Total Runs: 71 Average Score: 17.75 Highest Score: 57 Total Wickets: -- Runs per wicket: -- Best Result: -- Khurasia has yet to bowl in a one-day international. An attacking batsman whose confidence is seen as a major asset in one-day games. Debasis Mohanty Full name: Debasis Mohanty Known as: Debasis Mohanty Born: July 20, 1976. Bats: Right-handed Bowls: Right-arm medium pace bowler Played for: India, Orissa One-Day Debut: vs. Pakistan at Toronto, Sahara Cup, 1997 One-Day Matches: 20 Total Runs: 9 Average Score: 9.00 Highest Score: 4* Total Wickets: 20 Runs per wicket: 36.95 Best Result: 3-15 Although Mohanty has an unusual action he is capable of exploiting conditions to seam the ball both ways and is expected to be very effective in the early English summer. Although he enjoyed an impressive test debut of four wickets against Sri Lanka and he received even more praise for his performance at the Sahara Cup in Toronto, he has on occasion shown weaknesses, which was seen when he played Pakistan.

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