E-Paper
Kumble gives selection worry ahead of ODIs
The leggie would come in the eleven not at the cost of Bhajji who has been in fine form.
Ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble is keen to take roots in India's one-day plans against South Africa but it can cause some serious selection headache for the team management on the present tour.
Kumble is sure to be thrown in the one-day mix and this would not please either the middle-order batsmen or medium-pacers as the mighty leg-spinner's inclusion would necessarily mean that India would go in one-dayers with five bowlers, thus shortening the batting line-up.
As things stand, Kumble would come in the eleven not at the cost of Harbhajan Singh who has been in fine form this season.
Harbhajan has snared 24 victims from 20 games at an average of 29.17 and an economy rate of 3.91 per over, one of the best of the present calendar year.
He is seen vital to India's strategy in South Africa and more so for the slow wickets of the Caribbean where the next World Cup is scheduled in March-April 2007.
India would also not be able to play anything less than three medium-pacers in any of the forthcoming one-day games in South Africa.
The usage of 20 overs in Power Play with field restrictions makes three medium-pacers in any composition of a side a must.
To turn one's back to this stark reality would be foolhardy on pitches, which favour bounce, pace, and movement.
