Indian player profiles

MOHANDAS MENONAjit Bhalchandra AGARKAR

Known as: Ajit Agarkar. Born: Bombay, 4-12-1977 Type: Right-hand lower-order batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. Team: Mumbai FC debut: For Mumbai v Gujarat at Mumbai, 1996-97. Highest FC score: 109 not out for India v England at Lord's, 2002. Best FC bowling: 6-72 for India `A' v Pakistan A at Karachi, 1997-98. Test debut: v Zimbabwe at Harare, 1998-99. Highest Test score: 109 not out v England at Lord's, 2002. Best bowling (in an innings): 3-43 v Australia at Adelaide, 1999-00.

Lakshmipathy BALAJI

Born: Madras, 27-9-1981. Type: Right-hand tail-end batsman & right-arm fast-medium bowler. Team: Tamil Nadu. FC debut: For Tamil Nadu v Colombo DCA at Chennai, 2001-02. Highest FC score: 37 for India A v South Africa `A' at Bloemfontein, 2001-02. Best FC bowing (in an innings): 7-42 for Tamil Nadu v Rajasthan at Jaipur, 2003-04. Best FC bowing (in a match): 11-51 for Tamil Nadu v Orissa at Chennai, 2002-03. Test debut: v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04. Highest Test score: 4 v New Zealand at Mohali, 2003-04. Best bowling (in an innings): 1-84 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04.

Akash Shyamlal CHOPRA

Known as: Akash Chopra. Born: Agra (Uttar Pradesh), 19-9-1977. Type: Right-hand opening batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler. Team: Delhi. FC debut: For Delhi v Services at Delhi (Palam), 1997-98. Highest FC score: 222 for Delhi v Himachal Pradesh at Delhi (HSS), 2000-01. Best FC bowling: 2-7 for India `A' v BCCSL Academy at Colombo (RPS), 2002. Test debut: v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04. Highest Test score: 60 v New Zealand at Mohali, 2003-04.

Deep Biplab DASGUPTA

Known as: Deep Dasgupta. Born: Calcutta, 7-6-1977. Type: Right-hand opening/middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper. Team: Bengal. FC debut: For Bengal v Baroda at Calcutta (CFG), 1998-99 (scored 120). Highest FC score: 137 for Bengal v Orissa at Baripada, 2001-02. Best FC wicket-keeping (in an innings): 5 dism (4ct+1st) for Bengal v Tripura at Agartala, 1999-00; 5 dism (all cts) for Bengal v Orissa at Calcutta, 2000-01; 5 dism (all cts) for Bengal v Gujarat at Calcutta, 2001-02. Best FC wicket-keeping (in a match): 8 dism (7ct+1st) for East Zone v North Zone at Maligaon, 2000-01. Test debut: v South Africa at Bloemfontein, 2001-02. Highest Test score: 100 v England at Mohali, 2001-02. Best wicket-keeping (in an innings): 3 (all catches) v England at Ahmedabad, 2001-02. Best wicket-keeping (in a match): See above.

Rahul Sharad DRAVID (vice-captain)

Known as: Rahul Dravid. Born: Indore (Madhya Pradesh), 11-1-1973. Type: Right-hand middle-order batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler. Can also keep wickets. Teams: Karnataka, Kent (in 2000), Scotland (2003, not first-class). FC debut: For Karnataka v Maharashtra at Pune, 1990-91. Highest FC score: 222 for India v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04. Best FC bowling: 2-16 for Kent v Surrey at The Oval, 2000. Test debut: v England at Lord's, 1996 (scored 95). Highest Test score: 222 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04. Best bowling (in an innings): 1-18 v West Indies at St John's, 2001-02 Test captaincy record: 2003-04: Played 1, Drawn 1.

Sourav Chandidas GANGULY (captain)

Known as: Sourav Ganguly. Born: Calcutta, 8-7-1972. Type: Left-hand middle-order/opening batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler. Teams: Bengal, Lancashire (in 2000). FC debut: For Bengal v Delhi at Calcutta, 1989-90. Highest FC score: 200 not out (twice) — for Bengal v Tripura at Calcutta, 1993-94 & for Bengal v Bihar at Calcutta, 1994-95. Best FC bowling: 6-46 for Bengal v Orissa at Calcutta, 2000-01. Test debut: v England at Lord's, 1996 (scored 131). Highest Test score: 173 v Sri Lanka at Mumbai (WS), 1997-98. Best bowling (in an innings): 3-28 v Australia at Calcutta, 1997-98. Test captaincy record: 2000-01 to 2003-04: Played 33, Won 13, Lost 10, Drawn 10.

HARBHAJAN SINGH Plaha

Known as: Harbhajan Singh. Born: Jalandhar, 3-7-1980. Type: Right-hand tail-end batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. Team: Punjab. FC debut: For Punjab v Services at Mohali, 1997-98. Highest FC score: 84 for Punjab v Haryana at Amritsar, 2000-01. Best FC bowling (in an innings): 8-84 v Australia at Chennai, 2000-01. Best FC bowling (in a match): 15-217 v Australia at Chennai, 2000-01. Test debut: v Australia at Bangalore, 1997-98. Highest Test score: 66 v Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, 2001-02. Best Test bowling (in an innings): 8-84 v Australia at Chennai, 2000-01. Best Test bowling (in a match): 15-217 v Australia at Chennai, 2000-01.

Anil KUMBLE

Known as: Anil Kumble. Born: Bangalore, 17-10-1970. Type: Right-hand lower-order batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler. Teams: Karnataka, Northamptonshire (1995), Leicestershire (2000). FC debut: For Karnataka v Hyderabad at Secunderabad, 1989-90. Highest FC score: 154 not out for Karnataka v Kerala at Bijapur, 1991-92. Best FC bowling (in an innings): 10-74 for India v Pakistan at Delhi, 1998-99. Best FC bowling (in a match): 16-99 for Karnataka v Kerala at Thalassery, 1994-95. Test debut: v England at Manchester, 1990. Highest Test score: 88 v South Africa at Calcutta, 1996-97. Best bowling (in an innings): 10-74 v Pakistan at Delhi, 1998-99. Best bowling (in a match): 14-149 v Pakistan at Delhi, 1998-99.

Vangipurapu Venkata Sai LAXMAN

Known as: V. V. S. Laxman. Born: Hyderabad, 1-11-1974. Type: Right-hand middle-order batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler. Team: Hyderabad. FC debut: For Hyderabad v Punjab at Ludhiana, 1992-93. Highest FC score: 353 for Hyderabad v Karnataka at Bangalore, 1999-00. Best FC bowling: 3-11 for Hyderabad v Railways at Delhi (KS), 1999-00. Test debut: v South Africa at Ahmedabad, 1996-97. Highest Test score: 281 v Australia at Calcutta, 2000-01. Best bowling (in an innings): 1-32 v West Indies at St John's, 2001-02.

Ashish Diwansingh NEHRA

Known as: Ashish Nehra. Born: Delhi, 29-4-1979. Type: Right-hand tail-end batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. Team: Delhi. FC debut: For Delhi v Haryana at Delhi, 1997-98. Highest FC score: 25 for Delhi v Railways at Delhi (KS), 2001-02. Best FC bowling (in an innings): 7-14 for North Zone v East Zone at Maligaon, 2000-01. Best FC bowling (in a match): 11-118 for Delhi v Jammu & Kashmir at Delhi, 1999-00. Test debut: v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), 1998-99. Highest Test score: 19 v England at Lord's, 2002. Best bowling (in an innings): 4-72 v Zimbabwe at Harare, 2001-02.

Parthiv Ajay PATEL

Known as: Parthiv Patel. Born: Ahmedabad, 9-3-1985. Type: Left-hand middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper. Team: Gujarat (yet to appear for his State side). FC debut: For India A v South African Board President's XI at Chatsworth (South Africa), 2001-02. Highest FC score: 129 for India `A' v Yorkshire at Leeds, 2003. Best FC wicket-keeping (in an innings): 5 dism (4ct+1st) for India `A' v South Africa `A' at Bloemfontein, 2001-02; 5 dism (all cts) for Elite `C' v Plate `A' at Secunderabad, 2002-03. Best FC wicket-keeping (in a match): 9 dism (all cts) for Elite `C' v Plate `A' at Secunderabad, 2002-03. Test debut: v England at Nottingham, 2002. Highest Test score: 47 v West Indies at Calcutta, 2002-03. Best wicket-keeping (in an innings): 4 (all catches) v New Zealand at Hamilton, 2002-03. Best wicket-keeping (in a match): See above.

Irfan Khan PATHANKnown as: Irfan Pathan jr.

Born: Baroda, 27-10-1984. Type: Left-hand lower-order batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. Team: Baroda. FC debut: For Baroda v Bengal at Baroda (GSFC), 2000-01. Highest FC score: 54 for Baroda v Tamil Nadu at Chennai (GN), 2002-03. Best FC bowling (in an innings): 6-31 for Baroda v Orissa at Cuttack, 2002-03. Best FC bowling (in a match): 10-146 for West Zone v Central Zone at Rajkot, 2001-02. Test debut: Not yet.

Sadagopan RAMESHKnown as: S. Ramesh.

Born: Madras, 16-10-1975. Type: Left-hand opening batsman and occasional right-arm slow bowler. Team: Tamil Nadu. FC debut: For Tamil Nadu v Hyderabad at Chennai, 1995-96 (scored 59 & 132). Highest FC score: 187 for Tamil Nadu v Kerala at Chennai, 1997-98. Best FC bowling: 1-22 for South Zone v North Zone at Faridabad, 2001-02. Test debut: v Pakistan at Chennai, 1998-99. Highest Test score: 143 v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), 1998-99.

Virender SEHWAG

Known as: Virender Sehwag. Born: Delhi, 20-10-1978. Type: Right-hand middle-order batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. Teams: Delhi, Leicestershire (2003). FC debut: For Delhi v Tamil Nadu at Chennai, 1997-98. Highest FC score: 274 for North Zone v South Zone at Agartala, 1999-00. Best FC bowling: 4-32 for North Zone v South Zone at Mumbai, 1998-99. Test debut: v South Africa at Bloemfontein, 2001-02 (scored 105). Highest Test score: 147 v West Indies at Mumbai, 2002-03. Best bowling: 1-17 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 2003-04.

Sachin Ramesh TENDULKARKnown as: Sachin Tendulkar.

Born: Bombay, 24-4-1973. Type: Right-hand middle-order/opening batsman and right-arm slow bowler. Teams: Mumbai (Bombay), Yorkshire (in 1992). FC debut: For Bombay v Gujarat at Bombay, 1988-89. Highest FC score: 233 not out for Mumbai v Tamil Nadu at Mumbai, 1999-00. Best FC bowling: 3-10 for India v South Africa at Mumbai (WS), 1999-00. Test debut: v Pakistan at Karachi, 1989-90. Highest Test score: 217 v New Zealand at Ahmedabad, 1999-00. Best bowling (in an innings): 3-10 v South Africa at Mumbai (WS), 1999-00. Test captaincy record: 1996-97 to 1999-00: Played 25, Won 4, Lost 9, Drawn 12.

ZAHEER KHAN

Known as: Zaheer Khan. Born: Srirampur, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, 7-10-1978. Type: Right-hand lower-order batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. Team: Baroda. FC debut: For Baroda v Gujarat at Baroda (IPCL), 1999-00. Highest FC score: 48 for Baroda v Maharashtra at Pune, 1999-00. Best FC bowling (in an innings): 6-25 for Baroda v Punjab at Baroda (GSFC), 2001-02. Best FC bowling (in a match): 10-110 for Baroda v Bihar at Baroda (IPCL), 1999-00. Test debut: v Bangladesh at Dhaka, 2000-01. Highest Test score: 46 v West Indies at Bridgetown, 2001-02. Best bowling (in an innings): 5-29 v New Zealand at Hamilton, 2002-03.

John Geoffrey WRIGHT (coach)

Country: New Zealand. Known as: John Wright. Born: Darfield, Canterbury, 5-7-1954. Type: Was a left-hand opening batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler. Teams: Northern Districts (1975-76 to 1983-84), Canterbury (1984-85 to 1988-89) and Auckland (1989-90 to 1992-93). Also appeared for Derbyshire in English county from 1977 to 1988. First-class tenure: 1975-76 to 1992-93. Tests from: 1977-78 to 1992-93 (82 Tests, 5334 runs, avg. 37.83, 12 hundreds). LOIs from: 1978 to 1992-93 (149 matches, 3888 runs, avg. 26.45, 1 hundred).