Translating potential into performance

His fielding abilities were never in doubt, though there remained a few question marks over Yuvraj Singh’s batting — chiefly his ability to play quality spin and his ‘lazy’ approach towards the game. But he answered all of those in the 2005-06 season, when he won three back-to-back man-of-the-series awards, and emerged as a dependable middle-order bat capable of finishing matches, yet retaining his flamboyance. His recent knee injury derailed India from launching an effective Champions Trophy campaign and even put India’s chances in the World Cup under a cloud. But all’s well that’s ends well. Yuvraj recovered just in time, and proved it with a stunning 95 against Sri Lanka.

AJIT AGARKAR

• Deception is one art that Ajit Agarkar has mastered over the years. Ever since his breathtaking entry in limited overs cricket in 1998 — that saw him replace Dennis Lillee as the fastest to 50 wickets — the wiry and fiery paceman has surprised many. Despite not living up to people’s expectations from ‘all-rounder’ Agarkar, the Mumbai pacer is as vital a cog in India’s ODI scheme of things as any. He is arguably India’s most effective ODI bowler since 2005 — and has more than occasionally chipped in with the bat as well. But once again it would be a question of make or break in the Caribbean. Let’s hope he can surprise us again.

Robin uthappa

• While the entire country has been raving about his dashing re-entry into the Indian dressing room last month, little thought has been given to the run of events that preceded Robin Uthappa’s career —- when Robin, despite his highest score of 86 on debut, slipped out stealthily from XI to the 15, and finally was left out in the cold. Nobody even noticed.

He didn’t have a choice but to go back and score heavy to remind the selectors about him. And Uthappa, to his credit, now realised the need of the hour. There’s a certain calculation behind his carefree batting blitzkreig. With Sehwag and Sourav as seniors, he had to be different, rather more attacking. That was his only way to force himself into the World Cup squad. A worry, though, can be that this approach looks a short-term option. And that is when his ability to play big innings will come under scrutiny.

Dinesh kaarthick

• There must be something distinct about him that India played a second wicketkeeper-bat in the XI in the same era as MS Dhoni. That in a team which has a plethora of attacking batsmen, he earned the man of the match in a Twenty20 match; and that amidst glowing talent in the Indian middle-order, his rise to prominence was hailed as refreshing.

But the fact is, there is nothing spectacularly distinct about Dinesh Kaarthick. But if keeping simplicity in his thinking and sticking to the basics in playing his cricket is distinct, then in that case Kaarthick definitely stands out.

Kaarthick knows his limitations and plays within them; he does not try to play the fancy shots or attempt to reach the spectators, but maintains a healthy strike rate by rotating the strike, keeping the ball along the ground and converting the ones into twos.