Sodhi, Harvinder for Kenya match
Buoyed by two big wins in successive matches, India have decided to give
their reserves a chance in their next game against Kenya on Wednesday.
Captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday confirmed that Punjab all-rounder
Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Railways' medium-pacer Harvinder
Singh, the two players who are yet to get a game on the tour,
would be playing in the next match.
"Sodhi will get in," Ganguly said at the team's practice
session. "Most probably Virender Sehwag will get a break
(rest) in this game."
Ganguly said he is keen that every member of his team gets a
game and stays psycholgically prepared when given a chance.
"It is important that everyone falls into groove and can come in
when required," he said.
Ganguly did not name the player to be left out to
accomodate Harvinder Singh but was absolutely certain neither
he nor master batsman Sachin Tendulkar would sit out.
"Both Tendulkar and I would play. There is little doubt
about that," he said.
Though Ganguly did not commit himself, but the omission could
be Yuvraj Singh, who is suffering from viral fever.
"We will see how it goes for him," the captain said about Yuvraj.
Yuvraj, who looked good thus far in the series, himself hoped
that things would work out well for him.
The Indians were in full strength at the nets of the St
George's Park.
Ganguly said he watched the Kenyans play South Africa
in Kimberly on Sunday and it was apparent they are improving.
"We would not be taking them lightly," he said, brushing aside
suggestions that the Kenyans are second-rate competition in
the ongoing tournament.
Anil Kumble, who made a sensational return to
international cricket after a year's lay-off because of a
shoulder injury, didn't bowl or bat at all in the nets on Monday and preferred to have his shoulder exercise done with the help of team physio Andrew Leipus. The drill lasted close to two
hours.
Tendulkar, who did not get to bat against Kenya in the last
match, was the first to have his batting nets, against
Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar, and, thereafter, preferred to
give Sehwag practice through a bowling machine, followed by a
long bowling stint to different batsmen at the nets.
India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage
Mail Cricket Editor