An encouraging aspect of Indian cricket in 2001 was the unearthing of a number of exciting young players. Admittedly, some cricketers who were given the big break did not live up to expectations but there were a few who performed creditably and even held out promise as long-term prospects and this can only augur well for Indian cricket.

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The stand out find of the year was undoubtedly Virender Sehwag. The compactly built and dynamic cricketer from Delhi first came into prominence with a fine all round display against Australia in the one- day international at Bangalore in March, soon after the memorable Test series was over. He scored 58 and took three wickets to star in India’s surprise victory on that occasion. After catching the eye with his all round capabilities, he went on to attract international attention when he raced to a hundred off 69 balls against New Zealand in the one-day international in Sri Lanka in August. It was an innings that earned Sehwag appreciation from even Sachin Tendulkar, who was forced to miss the tour, following a foot injury.

Close followers of the game saw a lot of Tendulkar in Sehwag ­ from his walk and build to his stance and stroke play ­ and he soon became the country’s great new hope. A one-day specialist until then, his smashing hundred had served notice that he was worthy of elevation to the Test squad and sure enough, he made his debut against South Africa in November. The result was the proverbial dream come true ­ a century in his first Test innings against a truly world-class attack. Subsequently, Sehwag found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons but by the end of 2001 there was little doubt he was the find of the year and the most exciting young cricketer on the horizon for a long time.

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Close behind Sehwag was Deep Dasgupta. Dasgupta was brought in to try and solve the country’s wicket-keeping problem, which had became serious over the past two years ever since Nayan Mongia fell out of favour. Since then a number of stumpers had been tried out without success and it was hoped that the youngster from Bengal would help fill that gap in the team. By the end of the year there was scope for improvement in his work behind the stumps but he had succeeded beyond expectations in front of them. Offering to open the innings ­ a brave decision ­ Dasgupta was an immediate success and his century in the first Test against England at Mohali was a fine effort. If he could improve his keeping, the country could have finally found a worthy successor to Mongia.

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Another young player who is being hailed as a long-term prospect is Tinu Yohannan, and why not? The first cricketer from Kerala to don the India cap, Yohannan’s rise to the top was meteoric. Playing his first Test after only eight first-class matches under his belt, the son of the former Asian long jump record holder TC Yohannan gave enough evidence of his potential in the Mohali Test against England. Sure, he was guilty of spraying the ball about a bit but the young man showed real spirit and fire in his bowling. With experience and a few more sessions with Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai, where he learnt much about the art and science of fast bowling, the tall and strong lad can prove to be a handy bowler, particularly in England next summer.

A couple of other young players were not exactly finds in that they made their international debut in 1999 and 2000. Interestingly enough, however, Hemang Badani made his Test debut this year after making his one-day international debut in the Asia Cup at Dhaka last year while Ashish Nehra, after making his Test debut in the Asian Test Championship in 1999, played his first one-dayer this year. Both looked almost certain of gaining a permanent place in the Indian team but stiff competition, in the middle-order and from other fast bowling hopefuls, saw them both being discarded. One hopes this is only temporary, for both have plenty of good cricket in them.

Another lad who had a modest start in the one-day matches against Australia but looks a fine prospect is Dinesh Mongia. The same optimism, however, cannot be expressed about some of the other young players who made their Test debuts during the year like Sairaj Bahutule, Rahul Sanghvi, Sanjay Bangar and Iqbal Siddiqui.

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