When Youth Bestirs

Murali Karthik: This wiry left-arm spinner's amazing haul of 13 wickets for Rest of India against Mumbai in the just-concluded Irani Cup has once again pitchforked him as a strong contender for the Indian team. This 24-year-old made his Test debut against the visiting South Africans earlier this year and in his four innings, he made just 18 runs, and has a career figure of 6 wickets in the 87 overs he's bowled. But with an ideal action-he delivers the ball with a nice loop-Murali, like Kumble, has mastered the art of pitching the ball on a length which is inconvenient for the batsman. A talented and level-headed yougster, he may well be the ideal support for the 'ageing' Kumble and carry on the great Indian tradition of spin bowling.

Hemang Bhadani: Another 24-year-old, this time from Chennai. Bhadani, according to many, is the new talent to watch out for. A left-handed batsman, who also bowls slow left-arm orthodox, Bhadani made his debut against Bangladesh at Dhaka in the Asia Cup this year. He made his first-class debut in 1996-97 after a string of spectacular performances for India Under-19 against South Africa at home. A good striker of the ball, at ease on both sides of the wicket, Bhadani's front-foot drive on the rise through the covers is a treat to watch. His 170 against Mumbai in this year's Ranji Trophy semi-final has made him a strong contender for a place in the forever-weak middle order of the national eleven.

Mohammad Kaif: He's one of the strongest contenders for the middle-order slot. Immensely gifted, his stylish strokeplay and unflinching temperament has inched him closer to a place in the national eleven. And with two superb knocks of 90 and 93 in the Challenger Trophy, already being touted as the much-needed utility player, once Robin Singh's gone.

Reetinder Singh Sodhi: Indeed, it's a problem of plenty. The all-round skills of this 20-year-old right-hand bat from Patiala (he also bowls right-arm medium pace) are widely known. Sodhi's already being identified as the long-term replacement for Robin Singh, the "genuine all-rounder" we've all been hunting for all these years. He has won for himself many friends for the way he plays his cricket-he plays it hard. A big match player-he was the man of the match in the finals of the Under-19 World Cup some time back-Sodhi is an exceptionally good fielder too.