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South predominates in Indian team

Anant Gaundalkar

8 October 1996

Perhaps for the first time in Indian cricket history, as many as eight players from the South Zone find a place in the Indian squad for the one off Test against Australia beginning at the Firozeshah Kotla ground come October 10.

Six of the eight are from Karnataka, the defending Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy champions. The rest of the team comprises two each from the west, east and north zones. Ironically, skipper Sachin Tendulkar is the only player from the strong Bombay contingent to find a place in the side.

Looked at in terms of experience, former captain Mohammed Azharuddin and leg-spinner Anil Kumble are, besides Tendulkar himself, the only players to appear in over 25 Test matches. And Tendulkar and Azhar are the only two players in the side to have an aggregate over 500 in Tests, which speaks volumes for the inexperience of this side.

Source: Rediff On The NeT
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 14:40