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Neat, Compact All-Rounder

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Neat, Compact All-Rounder
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You just can’t keep a good guy down. In Sri Lanka, Reetinder Sodhi didn’t get too many opportunities to justify his star billing as the Indian team was brimming with talent. But when his expertise was called for in the final, the baby-faced Sardar from Patiala bowled a restrictive line (none for 26 in 10 overs) and scored a composed 39 not out to steer India out of last-minute hitches, an effort that earned him the man of the match award. Handling pressure comes naturally to Sodhi: you see, he’s already a veteran, having played in three junior World Cups since 1996.

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"Sodhi is a brilliant all-rounder," says Binny. "He bowls deceptively on seaming tracks and can build a good innings with his bat." In his school days, Sodhi is said to have asked his father Mahesh Inder Singh, a former Punjab Ranji player, to bowl to him daily after classes were over. The constant effort at fine-tuning his game seems to have paid off. Sodhi scored a quickfire 62 against West Indies A in Mumbai last year and a 200 against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. "He’s improved tremendously as a batsman," says Punjab coach Manjit Singh. "His bowling and fielding too have matured. He’s blossoming into a neat and compact all-rounder."

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Sodhi has already received a call up for the Challenger series and it won’t be a surprise if he makes it to the senior one-day team against South Africa. For, he can bat in any slot from opener to No. 6, bowl a tight line and field in any position. "He’s the most dedicated youngster I have seen in recent years," says former Indian opener Vikram Rathore. "He has the class and is bound to do well." At the junior level, Sodhi has surpassed all expectations. It’s the senior circuit that’s holding the challenges for him now.

Strengths: Can bat in any position in the top and middle order, good fielder, deceptive medium-pace bowler.

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