There may not be the usual hype like when the Indian team is playing at home, but this series between the ‘A’ teams of India and the West Indies, beginning here on Sunday with a one-day game, is crucial, says a report in the DNA.
“Both set of players will be keen to impress their respective national selectors. While the visitors are mostly fielding fresh faces, the focus of all eyes, as far as the Indian team is concerned, is skipper Yuvraj Singh. He would be keen to book a spot in Team India and a good show in this series will surely help,” says the report.
India ‘A’ coach Lalchand Rajput said: “Yuvraj is keen to come back into the Indian team. His performance will back him. He is focused and has been playing well. He has worked hard and has the hunger to come back. There is cricket left in Yuvraj and he is a match-winner. He has gone through a lot but has worked hard to get back,” Rajput added.
Meanwhile, bowler Praveen Kumar and all-rounder Irfan Pathan have been ruled out of the one-day games due to injuries. Siddharth Kaul and Vinay Kumar will take their places. Unmukt Chand, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Sharma, Vinay Kumar and others would also be keen on a good show.
According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, with the homes series against Australia and West Indies and the tour of South Africa later this year, there is a lot at stake for those discarded as well as the aspirants. Hence, the three one-dayers and a standalone T20 contest over the next week will be crucial for players, especially the newly anointed India ‘ A’ skipper Yuvraj Singh.
“The southpaw, who last donned the Indian colours in the shorter format in the home series against England in January this year, had a forgettable IPL-6 too. In such a scenario the gritty 31-year-old cancer surviour will look to fight his way back into the ODI squad on the strength of his performance in this series. The man himself has made his intentions clear backing his comeback plan with a training stint in France recently, which has surely transformed him into a leaner and fitter version of himself,” says the report.
Though Yuvraj surprisingly gave the pre-event press conference the skip, coach Lalchand Rajput said, “Yuvraj is very focused and is keen to make a comeback in to the team. He has a lot of cricket left in him.” This series also offers a lifeline for the out-of-favour Yusuf Pathan, who has failed to make an impression over the last couple of years.