Strongest Indian cricket team playing in Heaven

Dilip Sardesai

By Kersi Meher-Homji  

With no cricket being played in these Covid-kalichaudas days, what can a cricket writer do? Select Best World XIs, Best World Cup XIs, Best ODI XIs”¦? But that’s been done to death.

Done to death? That gives me an idea. Why not select a Best Indian Test XI from immortal cricketers who are not alive. In other words, a best Indian cricket squad playing in heaven.

The candidates are as below.

Who will open the batting? Vijay Merchant, S Mushtaq Ali, Pankaj Roy, Dilip Sardesai.

Who will come at number three? Rusi Modi, Vijay Manjrekar, Ajit Wadekar.

Vijay Hazare

Rusi Surti with Kersi Meher-Homji

Middle order: Vijay Hazare, Polly Umrigar, Lala Amarnath, Vinoo Mankad, Mansur Ali Pataudi, CK Nayudu, Hemu Adhikari, Ramnath Kenny, Bapu Nadkarni.

Wicket keeper: NS Tamhane, DD Hindlekar, P Sen, Madhav Mantri.

Fast to fast-medium bowlers: Mohammad Nissar, L. Amar Singh, Dattu Phadkar, GS Ramchand, Ramakant Desai, Rusi Surti.

Spinners: SP Gupte and Ghulam Ahmed apart from the legendary all-rounder Vinoo Mankad and Bapu Nadkarni.

It is difficult to please all The Indian Down Under readers as I had to leave out some immortals but here’s my Heavenly Indian Test XI in batting order with a 12^th man and a few reserves.

Vijay Merchant, Dilip Sardesai, Vijay Manjrekar, Vijay Hazare, Mansur Ali Pataudi (captain), Polly Umrigar, Vinoo Mankad, Dattu Phadkar, NS Tamhane (w.k.), Mohammad Nissar, SP Gupte.

Nissar and Phadkar will open the attack followed by Umrigar. Mankad and Gupte will be the spinners

12^th man: Rusi Surti.

Reserves: Lala Amarnath, Amar Singh, Mushtaq Ali, CK Nayudu, Ghulam Ahmed, Ajit Wadekar, Bapu Nadkarni and GS Ramchand.

Now it’s up to you readers to pick faults with my selection. And hurry up as heavens can’t wait!

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