Akhil Herwadkar
(Left-hand batsman, Opener)
To put it simply, he’s a ‘veteran’. The southpaw was part of the Unmukt Chand-led side that won the 2012 event in Australia. He did not get a game then, but is expected to play a crucial role this time around. “He has the ability to play long knocks. He is hungry, focused and has the desire to play big-ticket cricket,” says Satish Samant, former Mumbai U-19 coach. “However, he has to be consistent.”
Tri-Series (Australia): M: 5, Runs: 165, Best: 60, Avg: 33.00, 100s: 0, 50: 2
India in Sri Lanka: M: 3, Runs: 62, Avg: 20.66, 50s: 0
Quadrangular Series (Vizag): M: 6, Runs: 203, HS: 88, Avg: 40.60, 50s: 2
Asia Cup (UAE): M: 3, Runs: 70, Best 31, Avg: 23.33
Sarfaraz Khan
(Right-hand bat, Middle-order, Leg-spinner)
Sarfaraz, 16, is the baby of the side. However, he is already a star. Even Greg Chappell rates him highly. A hard-hitting batsman, Sarfaraz came into the limelight by slamming 439 in the Harris Shield in 2009. “Sarfaraz bats at No. 6, but will do better if promoted. He is a very good player of spin and has the ability to score big runs. He is a decent bowler too,” Samant says.
Tri-Series (Australia): M: 3, Runs: 38, Best: 30*, Avg: 38, Wkts: 1, BBI: 1/19
India in Sri Lanka: M: 3, Runs: 27, Best: 14*, Avg: 27.00, Wkts: 4, BBI: 4/27
Quadrangular Series (Vizag): M: 6, Runs: 243, Best: 101, Avg: 81.00, 100: 1, 50s: 2, Wkts: 5, BBI: 2/9
Asia Cup (UAE): M: 3, Runs: 45, Ave: 15.00
Shreyas Iyer
(Right-hand bat, Middle-order batsman, Off-spinner)
Iyer hasn’t got enough opportunities to prove his mettle. But speak to coaches and they say he is an asset. Iyer is an aggressive batsman who has all the strokes in the armoury. His 67-ball 109 against Australia in the in Vizag is proof of his match-winning abilities. “He is a fearless batsman.
Shreyas knows how to bat under pressure and can turn things around. He should be asked to play his natural game. He is also a handy bowler,” Samant says.
Tri-Series (Australia): M: 3, Runs: 5, Best: 4, Avg: 3.50, Wkts: 0
Quadrangular Series (Vizag): M: 6, Runs: 198, Best: 109, Avg: 39.60, 100s: 1, 50s: 0,
Did not play in Sri Lanka & Asia Cup (UAE)
