Jimmy Amarnath’s scathing description of Indian selectors as “a bunch of jokers” crosses my mind as I venture to rustle up India’s Dream Team for the 50-over format. Though most cricket-crazy Indians have at some point in their lives debated and discarded the pick of the selectors, they have fortunately escaped the backlash of the “men who supposedly, spiritually, and suspiciously know it all”. I may not evade that wrath, so a quick disclaimer—this write-up does not aim to hurt the sentiments of readers by including or excluding names they are not in agreement with.
Let us define the task on hand: What do I want from my Dream Team? For a start, the ideal opening combination must have two batsmen who complement each other’s game and are yet diverse in their batting styles. The middle order should be flexible, capable of occupying the crease, rotating the strike in the middle overs, and also upping the ante in the slog overs. The wicketkeeper should be safe behind the wicket and effective in front of it; if not an opener, he should be able to use the long handle. The team should have two all-rounders to provide that quintessential balance to the eleven.
Since I have the luxury of picking the best batsmen ever to have played ODIs, I’d be tempted to play with five bowlers whom I expect not only to restrict the opposition but also take wickets—nothing slows down the scoring rate as effectively as fall of wickets. Last, at least a couple of my bowlers should master the art of bowling in the death and crucial powerplay overs. Fielding is crucial, but I would rather pick a superior batsman or bowler over a mediocre player who happens to be electric on the field.
Here’s my Dream XI, a heady mix of talent, dynamism and that all-important X-factor!
Virender Sehwag
- With him at the top, you can take the attack to the opposition. If he gets set, he’s sure to win you the game. The operative word is ‘if’, but I am willing to punt because of the strong batting line-up I have. The only alternative to Sehwag is Srikkanth, who pioneered the aerial route but isn’t as destructive as the nawab of Najafgarh.
Sachin Tendulkar
- An automatic choice. His technical prowess allows him to see off the new ball with minimum fuss and his proficiency enables him to increase the scoring rate without taking undue risks. Even his aerial shots, executed to take advantage of fielding restrictions, are technically correct. Once set, you can be reasonably certain of seeing him at the crease around the 40th over, an important criterion for anyone partnering Sehwag, for you need one of your openers to play a long innings consistently. Tendulkar is incomparable.
Sourav Ganguly (Capt)
- He can change gears like a Sehwag or grow roots at the crease like a Tendulkar. His mastery on the off-side fetches him boundaries when others are scratching around; his authority against spin would push even its best exponents on the backfoot, making him an ideal No. 3. For instilling the never-take-a-backward-step attitude in the Indian team, he gets to lead my team.
Mohammed Azharuddin
- The No. 4 of the team should be a quick runner between the wickets, a brilliant rotator of strike, someone who can control the innings to set it up for the lower order. Azhar takes this spot for his magical wrist-play and ability to find non-existent gaps. He pips Dravid to the post for his better running between the wickets and exceptional fielding.
Yuvraj Singh
- No. 5 in this formidable batting line-up should clear the fence at will. There’s a huge difference between players who use their feet and body momentum, Sidhu-style, to clear the field, and those who do it from the crease, using muscle and bat speed. It’s the latter that a lower-down batsman should manage. He should be a good fielder and be able to bowl a few overs as well. And though Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh were hot contenders for this spot, Yuvraj is a better package.
M.S. Dhoni
- Arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman India has produced, Dhoni can rotate the strike, push the fielders in the deep to steal an extra run, and doesn’t shy away from taking the aerial route. To be No. 6, it’s vital the guy must be smart enough to understand the demands of the situation and play accordingly—Dhoni does precisely that. Equally effective behind the stumps, Dhoni, like Tendulkar, has no contender for this spot.
Kapil Dev
- As the only genuine all-rounder, he is this team’s most valued player, providing necessary balance. His ability to swing the new ball would be crucial to making early inroads, and his aggressive batting can change the game in a few overs. Also, the best player to man the fence for his superb ability to cover ground and send rocket-like throws.
Anil Kumble
- When most teams are doing fine with four bowlers, you are likely to wonder why I choose five. Well, it’s easier to chase 250 with six batsmen than 300 runs with seven. An extra bowler, a specialist, would go for wickets, putting brakes on the rival. Kumble is your best bet in all conditions and situations—he can bowl inside the powerplay overs, definitely in the middle, and if needed, in the death overs. His accuracy makes him one of the toughest bowlers to get away for runs.
Manoj Prabhakar
- A controversial choice, I know, but I want someone who can bowl yorkers at will, disguise the slower ones, and has the heart to bowl to the opposition in assault mode. Prabhakar faced competition from Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad. But Srinath can be expensive in the slog overs; Prasad may not be as effective with the new ball, as he relies on seam movement instead of swing. I’d rather have someone who can swing the new Kookaburra to breach the openers’ defence. Prabhakar can also be easily promoted up the order in case there’s a collapse.
Harbhajan Singh/Srinath
- To whom this spot goes depends on the nature of the surface and the captain’s preference. We may leave this one for Sourav to decide.
Zaheer Khan
- A left-arm seamer not only lends variety to the attack, he also completes the attack. He could open with Kapil or be your first-change bowler—and combine with Prabhakar to bowl in the death overs.
The best thing about our Dream Team is that it consists of players who certainly dare to dream.
Aakash Chopra is a former Indian Test opener
