Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Likely to Limp Out of World Cup
Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are doubtful starters for the World Cup. The India team management is mum on their fitness and availability.
India's pace twins for all formats - Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - may limp out of the World Cup squad, according to sources. Both quickies are nursing injuries and could turn out to 'baggage' in a long tournament where defending champions India should have an easy passage at least till the quarterfinals. (India Need Bowling Heroes to Retain World Cup: Harbhajan)
The team management has been mum about the fitness and availability of four players - Ishant, Bhuvneshwar, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. Rohit and Jadeja are likely to be fit for India's first warm-up game against Australia on Saturday. ('Pressure Will be on India Against Pakistan')
Defending champions India have back-up plans in place. Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni - initially picked for the trination series - have stayed back with the World Cup squad which is taking some time off from serious cricket.
While Sunil Gavaskar's choice Mohit looks certain to replace one of the injured pacers, Kulkarni, a specialist pacer, should logically replace Bhuvneshwar. But with India winless in more than 11 weeks in Australia, the selectors may change their game plan and just fall back on some experience. (Tendulkar Factor Will be Missed in India vs Pakistan Clash)
Australia's wickets have not been totally unkind to the slow bowlers. With an ability to be a match-winner, will India opt for Yuvraj Singh? The 2011 World Cup Man of the Series has been in good touch in domestic cricket and stands an outside chance to make a dramatic entry. Indian cricket is full of surprises.