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Youngsters should cash in on the opportunity

By K. SRIKKANTH

The Indians have one more tournament ahead of them. Like I have said before, the youngsters should cash in on the opportunity.

It will be interesting to see how players like Gautam Gambhir and Avishkar Salvi stand up to the challenge, especially against South Africa.

India should put itself in a situation where it should be able to field a capable second eleven. It is here that such limited overs competitions could come in handy.

This tournament should provide an opportunity for the Indians to try out a few variations. For instance, I firmly believe that Yuvraj Singh should bat higher up the order.

There is a lot of ability in this player, who is still young, but I am afraid the team has not made the most of his talent. Yuvraj should be given enough overs to parade his skills, and run up substantial scores.

Now, there are times when he is being wasted, and I would not be unhappy at all if he walks in, say, even at No. 3. I am not sure whether the team-management is thinking along similar lines though.

It would not be a bad idea to give leg-spinner Amit Mishra a run in the tournament too. But if they decide to play him, they should not drop him after one or two performances.

Coming to Bangladesh, I frankly feel they belong to a much lower rung of cricket playing nations. Even the ICC seems to have realised the fact that it erred in giving Bangladesh Test playing status in the first place.

Despite figuring in so many games, cricket in Bangladesh hardly appears to be evolving and has remained stagnant, which doesn't say much about the country's cricketers who have gained in experience but have not shown the desired results.

The side's display in the World Cup was extremely disappointing and now I am not sure, whether the team has in it to improve.

www.kris-srikkanth.com

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