Patil’s Plan A: Keeping the bench warm

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had chalked out a plan before the India ‘A’ team toured England a few months ago....

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had chalked out a plan before the India ‘A’ team toured England a few months ago. The idea was to nurture a second string squad and keep it ready for any eventuality.

Sandeep Patil was given the charge of a squad that included Shiv Sunder Das, Hemang Badani, Murali Kartik and Gautam Gambhir — players who have been constantly in and out of the senior team. As Patil revealed, it was this theory that he will concentrate on for the second Test between the A teams of India and Sri Lanka starting tomorrow.

	TEAMS

			India (from): Shiv Sunder Das (Capt), Hemang Badani, Gautam Gambhir, S Sriram, Rohan Gavaskar, Mohd Kaif, Murali Kartik, Ajay Ratra, Amit Bhandari, Siddarth Trivedi, Munaf Patel, Ramesh Powar, Ambatti Rayudu, Amit Mishra. Coach: Sandeep Patil. Sri Lanka (from): Ian Daniels T Paranvithane, Nuwan Shiroma, Ankusha Pollonowita, Jehan Mubarak, Naved Nawaz, Lanka Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, K Weeraratne, Rangana Herath, C Mudalige, L. Malinga, T Kandamby, Tharanga Lakshita, Omesh Wijesiriwardane. Manager: Nuski Mohamed. Coach: Hemantha Devapriya. Story continues below this ad

‘‘We will go in with the concept of ‘A’ — give almost every player a chance to perform and then analyse their performances,’’ Patil said, thus hinting that all those who weren’t a part of the last match might be played.

However, he has also, evidently, kept in mind the history of the Pune track, traditionally a batsman’s paradise, when he added that six batsmen would be played in the match. As for his thoughts about how he expected the match to go, ‘‘We will really have to bat badly to lose,’’ he said.

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik is back from an injury and will be playing. ‘‘Hemang Badani is also fit to play,’’ the coach added. ‘‘As for the whole series, we are concentrating on Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Kartik and Hemang Badani, who stand the highest chance of getting into the senior team.’’

The Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, on the other hand, is currently riding high after a gritty batting performance in Ahmedabad. They were close to a victory there but had to settle for a draw. ‘‘We will be looking to cover that extra inch,’’ captain Naved Nawaz and team manager Nuski Mohammed chorussed.

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Both men, along with coach Hemantha Devapriya, were apprehensive about the team’s bowling, which thrives on three young left-arm seamers who are particularly new to the side. ‘‘They have been bowling well and are expected do so here again,’’ they said.

The Sri Lankans left the announcement of the final eleven for the day of the match.