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New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India will be keen to maintain their consistency to fulfill their fans' expectations at the Champions Trophy starting in South Africa next week.
India disappointed in the tournament's last edition at home in 2006 when they failed to qualify for the semi-finals, but have given their fans plenty to cheer about with their recent successes.
They won five successive bilateral one-day series twice against Sri Lanka and once each against England, the West Indies and New Zealand and saw off Sri Lanka again in a Tri-nations series which finished on Monday (Sep 14).
India will be without explosive opener Virender Sehwag and key paceman Zaheer Khan, but Kirsten said the team still had the resources to give a good account of themselves in South Africa.
The Indian batting looks formidable despite Sehwag's absence as Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Dhoni are all capable of playing match-winning roles with their exciting stroke-making.
The spotlight will be on middle-order batsman Rahul Dravid, who has just returned to the one-side after nearly two years. He is known for building an innings under pressure, having already scored more than 10,000 one-day runs.
Gautam Gambhir keeps alive India's chances of making a brisk start as he has been in a fine touch.
He is likely to open the innings with Tendulkar, the world's leading scorer in international cricket. Tendulkar, playing international cricket for nearly 20 years, will again be the key for his ability to play according to the situation and inspire confidence in others.
Nehra, who impressed in the West Indies and Sri Lanka in recent series, and fellow-pacemen Ishant Sharma and Rudra Pratap Singh are all capable of providing early breakthroughs, which are essential to seize the advantage.
India have a specialist spinner in Harbhajan Singh who can keep the batsmen under check with his tidy off-spin. Part-time spinners Yuvraj, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan fully supports to Bhajji.
India straightaway step into a high-pressure situation in South Africa when they clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match, hoping their consistency will see them through.
| S# | Player | DOB | Matches | Batting | Bowling |
| 7 |
MS Dhoni (c)
|
7 July 1981
|
139
|
Right
|
wicket-keeper
|
| 19 |
Rahul Dravid
|
11 January 1973
|
333
|
Right
|
Right arm off break
|
| 5 |
Gautam Gambhir
|
14 October 1981
|
78
|
Left
|
Right arm leg break
|
| 3 |
Harbhajan Singh
|
3 July 1980
|
189
|
Right
|
Right arm off break
|
| 99 |
Dinesh Karthik
|
1 June 1985
|
30
|
Right
|
wicket-keeper
|
| 8 |
Praveen Kumar
|
2 October 1986
|
24
|
Right
|
Right arm medium pace
|
| N/A |
Amit Mishra
|
24 November 1982
|
3
|
Right
|
Right arm leg break
|
| N/A |
Abhishek Nayar
|
8 October 1983
|
2
|
Left
|
Right arm medium pace
|
| 64 |
Ashish Nehra
|
29 April 1979
|
76
|
Right
|
Left arm medium-fast
|
| 28 |
Yusuf Pathan
|
17 November 1982
|
26
|
Right
|
Right arm off break
|
| N/A |
Suresh Raina
|
27 November 1986
|
65
|
Left
|
Right arm off break
|
| 29 |
Ishant Sharma
|
2 September 1988
|
30
|
Right
|
Right arm fast
|
| 9 |
R. P. Singh
|
6 December 1985
|
51
|
Right
|
Left arm fast-medium
|
| 10 |
Sachin Tendulkar
|
24 April 1973
|
425
|
Right
|
Right arm leg break/off break
|
| 12 |
Yuvraj Singh
|
12 December 1981
|
236
|
Left
|
Slow left arm orthodox
|
