Rahul Dravid (capt)
Age: 32
Right-hand batsman
Average: 40.01
Strike rate: 70.75
Technically accomplished and rated among the finest number three
batsmen ever. His defensive approach was initially seen as not
suited for one-dayers until he took over as wicket-keeper and added
steel to the middle-order to help India reach the 2003 World Cup
final. In February, became only the sixth player to score 10,000
one-day runs.
Ajit Agarkar
Age: 29
Right-arm fast-medium bowler, right-hand batsman.
Average: 15.30
Strike rate: 82.17
Economy rate: 5.05
The most experienced seamer in the team, capable of producing sharp
pace that belies his thin frame, but has suffered repeated
injuries. Has cut down on pace in the last two seasons by focusing
on line and length and swing. Was fastest to 50 ODI wickets and
also scored a 21-ball one-day fifty. Scored a test hundred against
England at Lord's in 2002. Made his World Cup debut in 1999 in
England but was ignored for 2003.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Age: 25
Right-hand batsman, wicketkeeper
Average: 46.61
Strike rate: 98.49
Explosive batsman who struck 148 in his fifth ODI in a home series
against Pakistan in April 2005 and a match-winning 183 not out
against Sri Lanka at home later that year to record the highest
one-day score by a wicketkeeper. Dhoni struck 148 for his maiden
test hundred on the 2006 Pakistan tour. Hugely popular with fans
for long hair and model looks and has a fleet of motorbikes. Has
good temperament and can curb natural aggression when needed.
Saurav Ganguly
Age: 34
Left-hand batsman, right-arm slow-medium bowler
Average: 41.22
Strike rate: 73.94
Economy rate: 5.05
Gifted off-side player, discarded after one ODI on debut as a
teenager in Australia in 1991-2 but made hundreds in his first two
tests on comeback in 1996. Has a record 16 century opening
partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar, with his 22 hundreds third in
the all-time list. India's most successful test captain, was sacked
as one-day player in October 2005 and from tests four months later
but made a strong comeback in the South Africa test series defeat
and subsequent home one-day series wins over West Indies and Sri
Lanka.
Dinesh Karthik
Age: 21
Right-hand batsman, wicketkeeper
Average: 18.75
Strike rate: 58.59
Won one-day and test caps in 2004, but was edged out by Dhoni in
late 2005 after managing one fifty in 10 tests. India's best
wicketkeeper, he was chosen after his gutsy batting in the 2006-7
South Africa series defeats where hopefuls Mohammad Kaif and Suresh
Raina both flopped.
Zaheer Khan
Age:
28
Left-arm fast medium bowler, right-hand batsman
Economy rate: 4.89
A robust paceman who can move the ball at sharp pace. Made a
promising debut in the 2000 Champions Trophy in Kenya to raise
hopes as a future pace spearhead before touching a low point in the
2003 World Cup final with a nervous 10-ball first over which cost
15 runs and set the tone for a huge Australian victory.
Poor form and stress injuries blamed mainly on a big leap on
delivery led to his axing in February last year with critics also
questioning his attitude. Made a strong comeback for the 2006-7
South Africa tour after re-discovering his rhythm during a stint
with English county Worcestershire.
Anil Kumble
Age: 36
Right-arm leg-break bowler, right-hand batsman
Economy rate: 4.31
India's greatest and most successful one-day and test bowler, and
fourth highest wicket-taker (547) in test history. Relies on
accuracy and variation rather than sharp turn. In 1999, became only
the second bowler after England spinner Jim Laker to take all 10
wickets in a test innings, against Pakistan. Has played few
one-dayers after being dropped for the 2003 World Cup final, but
picked for sheer experience after taking 23 wickets to bowl India
to their first test series win in the West Indies in 35
years.
Munaf Patel
Age: 23
Right-arm fast-medium bowler, right-hand batsman
Economy rate: 4.65
A natural talent who hails from a rural village, Patel raised hopes
as India's fastest bowler and then overcame injuries to grab 10
wickets in a warm-up tie against visiting England in early 2006 and
seven on his test debut against the same team. Fitness has remained
an issue after recent ankle and back injuries, but could still
score with his nagging accuracy.
Irfan Pathan
Age: 22
Left-arm medium fast, left-hand batsman
Average: 25.15
Strike rate: 80.09
Economy rate: 5.02
Made India debut as 19-year-old in Australia in 2003 and ability to
swing the ball and bat raised hopes as a successor to Kapil Dev.
Shone in India's maiden test and one-day series victory in Pakistan
in 2004, took a hat-trick in the first over of the Karachi test in
2006 and contributed with bat and ball in a record 17 straight
one-day wins while chasing in 2006. Has endured a dip in bowling
form since mid-2006 and was sent sent home to play domestic cricket
from South Africa. Selectors hope for a form reversal, but has
played just one of eight ODIs versus West Indies and Sri Lanka in
the last month due to a sore shoulder.
Virender Sehwag
Age: 28
Right-hand batsman, right-arm off-break bowler
Average: 31.18
Strike rate: 96.04
Economy rate: 5.26
Explosive batsman who relies more on instinct than technique. Hit
then seventh fastest one-day hundred against New Zealand in August
2001 and a century on test debut in South Africa two months later.
Scored 309 in the first Multan test in 2004, the first test triple
hundred by an Indian, to spark the team's historic first series win
in Pakistan. Has endured poor batting form since August, with just
one 50 in his last 13 one-day innings, but was chosen on past
record.
Harbhajan Singh
Age: 26
Right-arm off-break bowler, right-hand batsman
Economy rate: 4.13
A match-winning bowler at home with leg-spinner Anil Kumble. Was
reported for throwing and criticised for poor attitude soon after
test debut aged 17, but produced a sensational 32-wicket haul to
spark a 2-1 home test series victory over Australia in 2001 that
also featured the first test hat-trick by an Indian.
Also a handy lower order batsman who is tipped to play ahead of
Kumble if India opt for one spinner in key Cup games. He was
cleared of throwing his doosra in 2005.
Yuvraj Singh
Age: 25
Left-hand batsman, left-arm orthodox spinner. 163 matches
Average: 35.29
Strike rate: 85.98
Economy rate: 4.90
Talented batsman with raw power and brilliant fielder at point,
seen as key to Indian World Cup hopes. Hit a match-winning 84 as
teenager in his first ODI innings versus Australia in the Champions
Trophy quarter-final in 2000. After a slump blamed on poor
attitude, showed his class in a century stand with Mohammad Kaif to
chase 326 for a memorable NatWest series final win over hosts
England in 2002. Tightened technique by playing straighter to be
rewarded with at least a fifty every third innings since August
2005 and three man-of-the-series awards in a row. Tore knee
ligaments in October to become a World Cup doubt, but eased
concerns by lashing 95 not out in the home series win over Sri
Lanka in February.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
Age: 24
Right-arm fast-medium bowler, right-hand batsman
Economy rate: 5.75
Pacy and high on aggression, was picked in 2005 after good domestic
displays and took 6-55 during a 5-1 home one-day series win over
England in 2006. Shone in India's first test series win in West
Indies for 35 years in 2006 and the first test win in South Africa.
Averages more than 36 per wicket in one-dayers, but still chosen
for his wicket-taking abilities.
Sachin Tendulkar
Age: 33
Right-hand batsman, right-arm spin and slow-medium bowler
Average: 44
Strike rate: 85.65
Economy rate: 5.05
All-time great batsman who has broken many batting records since
bursting into the international scene as a 16-year-old in 1989.
Holds the records for most one-day caps, runs and hundreds and most
test hundreds (35). Leading World Cup run-getter with 1,732 runs at
an average of nearly 60, including four hundreds.
Many injuries in the last seven years from the wear and tear of
constant playing have slowed his scoring. Has moved down the
batting order to boost the middle-order.
Robin Uthappa
Age: 21
Right-hand batsman
Average: 36.42
Strike rate: 114.34.
Well-built and explosive top-order batsman who blasted a
match-winning 86 on one-day debut versus England in April 2006. Hit
two more explosive 50s during the recent home one-day series wins
over West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Greg Chappell
Age: 58
Coach
Former Australia captain who led the team to 21 wins from 48 tests.
Coached South Australia and was consultant at Pakistan Cricket
Academy before being appointed India coach in May 2005 till the
World Cup.
