Leave the past behind

Sir - The list of 30 probables for the Indian cricket team for the World Cup in 2015 has been announced by the national selectors, and it is evident that they have decided to leave the past behind and move on with the newer generation of cricketers ('Youngsters get the nod', Dec 5). Five stalwarts who were part of the team that brought home the trophy in 2011 - Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir - failed to make it to the list in spite of their hopes. The selectors accorded preference to those who are in form at present over players who performed well in the past. This list of 30 probables will be pruned further, and the final 15 will be announced by January 7 next year, the deadline for submitting the list of the final squad to the International Cricket Council.

Most people will not question the selection made this time, but some may feel that a couple of players who have been ignored may have been of use to the team in Australia next year owing to their experience and approach. It can be argued that the older players who did not make it to the list are slower on the field in comparison to the younger lot, but they could win a match on a good day. On the other hand, some of those who are in form now could fail to perform at the World Cup.

Thirteen names on the list were expected to have been there, and it is almost certain that they will make it to the final squad. The composition of the team could be thus: one wicket-keeper (M.S. Dhoni, also the captain), six batsmen, six bowlers and two all-rounders. The six batsmen ought to be Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary and Suresh Raina. Tiwary should make it to the team over Ambati Rayudu and others. The six bowlers could be the quartet of pacers - Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami - and the two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin (off spin) and Amit Mishra (right-arm leg spin and the googly). Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm orthodox spinner, should fill in one all-rounder slot; he will add variety to the attack. This leaves a last slot, which could be claimed by Akshar Patel, who can also be considered an all-rounder. If this were to happen, then it would rule out Stuart Binny's selection as an all-rounder in the final squad. Umesh Yadav could fill in the 15th slot (to replace Patel), as the wickets in Australia will favour a genuine pacer rather than a bowler of medium pace like Binny. If Dhoni were injured, Rahane or Rohit - both can be considered certainties for the final 15 - could fill in as the stand-by wicket-keeper. I do not see a place in the squad for Robin Uthappa. Alternatively, the 15th slot could go to Wriddhiman Saha (also a wicket-keeper).

The tussle for the 15th spot, therefore, would be between the pace bowler, Yadav, the spinner, Patel, and the wicket-keeper, Saha. If any of the other names on the list are selected - for example, Mohit Sharma or Sanju Samson - it would smack of favouritism and could be considered to be a directive from the 'top', be it from Dhoni or from N. Srinivasan, who is the suspended president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India but still functions as its de factoboss. I wish Team India the very best. I hope India can retain the trophy, which will be a tough challenge down under.

Yours faithfully,

Ranesh Chandra Dey, Calcutta

Sir - The players who have made it to the list of 30 probables for the World Cup next year deserve to be there. I am very glad that Manoj Tiwary and Ashoke Dinda feature on the list. Their form was evident when they led the East Zone to its recent Deodhar Trophy victory. It is high time the selectors gave the two players their due. I am not disappointed that players such as Yuvraj, Sehwag, Gambhir and Zaheer were not picked - it is true that they played an integral role in India's last World Cup victory, but many years have passed since then and they are no longer the players they used to be. Choosing players for a World Cup squad on sentimental grounds is a bad idea.

Yours faithfully,

Sharmishtha Sengupta, Calcutta

Parting shot

Sir - I was saddened to hear that the veteran Hindi film actor, Deven Verma, succumbed to a heart attack and kidney failure in Pune recently. He had been a part of several memorable Bollywood films such as Bemisal, Judaai and Dil To Pagal Hai. He had played the role of Aamir Khan's father in the cult film, Andaz Apna Apna. But it was Gulzar's film, Angoor, that proved what a fine actor Verma was. He matched the versatile Sanjeev Kumar in the film frame for frame. Verma added a touch of class to the genre of comedy. He will be missed in the film fraternity and by his fans.

Yours faithfully,

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad