Bangalore: Profiles of the Indian cricketers who will go on a tour of West Indies. The team has been selected only for the five-match Test series.

Saurav Chandidas Ganguly:

Born: Calcutta Date of Birth: 08.07.1972 Debut: Against England, 2nd Test, Lords, 1996 Tests: 53, Runs: 3349; Average: 41.25; Highest Score: 173; Wickets: 23; Average: 44.00; Best Bowling: three for 28; Other teams: Plays for Bengal in domestic cricket; He has played for Lancashire in county cricket.

An attacking left-hand opening batsman in Limited Over Internationals but a middle order batsman in Tests. Bowls right arm medium pace. He has the distinction of registering centuries in his first two Test innings.

He has not looked back after scoring a debut century against England at Lords in 1996. Very strong on the off-side. Has captained in 18 Tests winning 9 and losing 5.

Rahul Sharad Dravid:

Born: Indore (MP) Date of Birth: 11.01.1973 Debut: against England, 2nd Test at Lords, 1996 Tests: 55; Runs: 4329; Average: 50.93; Highest Score: 200; Other Teams: Plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket. He has played for Kent in county cricket. Right-hand middle order batsman, off-break bowler.

He has a rock like solid defence and is called 'The Wall'. Scored 95 in his Test debut along with Saurav Ganguly against England at Lords in 1996. Has an impressive average of 50.93 in Tests. Has been the mainstay of the Indian batting line up. A talented fielder at any position. He can keep wickets when occasion demands.

Shiv Sundar Das:

Born: Bhubaneswar Date of Birth: 05.11.1977 Debut: Against Bangladesh, 1st Test at Dhaka, 2000/01 Tests: 18; Runs: 1202; Average: 40.07; Highest Score: 110; Other Teams: Plays for Orissa in domestic cricket. Right-Hand Opening Batsman.

Since making his debut against Bangladesh, Das has come a long way and has firmly established his credentials more by his stubbornness and temperament at the crease.

An excellent fielder at short-leg. He vice-captained India Under-19 team to Sri Lanka in 1996/97.

Deep Das Gupta:

Born: Calcutta Date of Birth: 07.06.1977 Debut: against South Africa, 1st Test, Bloemfontein, 2001/02 Tests: 7; Runs: 344; Average: 31.27; Highest Score: 100; Other Teams: Plays for Bengal in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, wicket-keeper.

He has the distinction of scoring a century in Ranji Trophy on debut.

Harbhajan Singh:

Born: Jallandhar Date of Birth: 03.07.1980 Debut: Against Australia, 3rd Test at Bangalore, 1997/98 Tests: 22; Runs: 278; Average: 13.24; Highest Score: 66; Wickets: 93; Average: 27.99; Best Bowling: 8/84; Other Teams: Plays for Punjab in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, Right-arm off-break bowler.

He has been a regular member of the squad contributing either with the bat or ball or both. Mesmerised the strong Australian batting line up by his off-spin bowling in March 2001 and took a record haul of 32 wickets in the 3 Test series.

Australians had no clue to counter his off spin. A useful tail-ender. Could well join the select band of bowlers who have taken 100 or more wickets in Tests as he needs just seven wickets to reach the milestone of 100 wickets.

Anil Kumble:

Born: Bangalore Date of Birth: 17.10.1970 Debut: Against England, 2nd Test at Manchester, 1990 Tests: 68; Runs: 1333; Average: 18.26; Highest Score: 88; Wickets: 316; Average: 27.54; Best Bowling: 10/74; Other Teams: Plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket; Has played for Northamptonshire and Leicestershire in county cricket. Right-hand batsman and right arm leg break bowler.

In spite of the injury threatening to mar his career midway, Kumble has fought bravely and come back into the side in the face of stiff competition from the young aspirants and has been a role model for the youngsters.

Has the distinction of taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1998/99. Nick named fondly as 'silent assassin of India' for his running through the opponents when in form. Has scored the all-rounder's double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets. Has been the leading wicket taker in Tests after Kapil Dev.

Vengipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman:

Born: Hyderabad Date of Birth: 01.11.1974 Debut: Against South Africa, 1st Test, Ahmedabad, 1996/97 Tests: 30; Runs: 1716; Average: 36.51; Highest Score: 281; Other teams: Plays for Hyderabad in domestic cricket. Right-Hand Batsman;

He has been in the news ever since he made an attacking century against Australia in its own den. He succeeded against the touring Australians in 2001 proving that his performance in Australia was no flash in the pan.

Thrashed the Aussie bowlers to all corners in the Kolkata Test and notched up the highest score by an Indian in all Tests (281). However, he has still to go a long way to concentrate on making consistent scores at top level to remain on top. He has hit two triple hundreds in Ranji Trophy.

Ashish Diwansingh Nehra:

Born: Delhi Date of Birth: 29.04.1979 Tests: 4; Runs: 26; Average: 13.00; Highest Score: 17; not out Wickets: 14; Average: 31.50; Best Bowling: 4/72; Other Teams: Plays for Delhi in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, left-arm medium fast bowler.

Nehra has been in and out of the Indian squad as he has not been consistent in his performances. The tour provides him an opportunity for cementing his place. Faced with lot of stiff competition, Nehra will have to grab his place when situation warrants to come back into the reckoning on a regular basis. Is yet to take a 5 wicket haul in a Test innings.

Sanjay Bapusaheb Bangar:

Born: Beed (Maharastra) Date of Birth: 11.10.1972 Debut: Against England, 1st Test at Mohali, 2001/02 Tests: 3; Runs: 143; Average: 71.50; Highest Score: 100 not out; Other Teams: Plays for Railways in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, right-arm medium fast bowler.

Scored a Test century against Zimbabwe in only his 2nd Test of his career. Has an average of 71.50 in 4 Test innings. A prolific scorer in domestic cricket.

Javagal Srinath:

Born: Mysore Date of Birth: 31.08.1969 Debut: Against Australia, 1st Test, Brisbane, 1991/92 Tests: 59; Runs: 831; Average: 13.85; Highest Score: 76; Wickets: 219; Average: 29.73; Best Bowling: 8/86; Other Teams: Plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket. Has played for Gloucestershire in county cricket. Right-hand batsman and right-arm medium fast bowler.

He is always menacing in terms of accuracy and in delivering inswingers and cutters.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar:

Born : Bombay Date of Birth: 24.04.1973 Debut: Against Pakistan, 1st Test, Karachi, 1989/90 Tests: 91; Runs: 7673; Average: 58.57; Highest Score: 217; Wickets: 25; Average: 40.52; Best Bowling: 3/10; Other Teams: Plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket. Played for Yorkshire in county cricket. Right-hand batsman, right-arm off/leg spin/medium pace.

Even after a decade of playing active cricket, Tendulkar still ranks as the best batsman in contemporary cricket in terms of technique and application. He led India on previous tour to West Indies in 1996/97. Has an aggregate of Test runs, which is next only to Sunil Gavaskar among Indian batsmen. Holds the record of being the highest run getter in the shorter version of the game having piled up over 11000 runs.

Wasim Jaffer:

Born: Bombay Date of Birth: 16.02.1978 Debut: Against South Africa, 1st Test, Bombay, 1999/00 Tests: 2; Runs: 46; Average: 11.50; Highest Score: 23; Other Teams: Plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket. Right-hand opening batsman.

He has amassed runs in almost all forms of the game in domestic cricket. Succumbed to the pressures of Test cricket when chance came for him to play against South Africa in 1999/00. However has recouped his batting form and came into the reckoning by consistent performances this season. He will have a tough task ahead of him to prove his worth as an able partner to Shiv Sundar Das.

Zaheer Khan:

Born: Shrirampur (Maharastra) Date of Birth: 07.10.1976 Debut: Against Bangladesh, 1st Test, Dhaka, 2000/01 Tests: 11; Runs: 93; Average: 7.75; Highest Score: 45; Wickets: 28; Average: 40.11; Best Bowling: 4/76; Other Teams: Plays for Baroda in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, left-arm medium fast bowler.

He is yet to take a 5-wicket haul in a test innings. His stock weapon is his lethal yorker.

Tinu Yohannan:

Born: Quilon Date of Birth: 18.02.1979 Debut: Against England, 1st Test at Mohali, 2001/02 Tests: 2; Runs: 5; Highest Score: 3; Wickets: 4; Average: 53.25; Best Bowling: 2/56; Other Teams: Plays for Kerala in domestic cricket. Right-hand batsman, right-arm fast medium bowler.

Yohannan is another youngster who is eager to set a firm footing in Test cricket, having played in only two Tests. Has been a regular performer in domestic cricket.

Dinesh Bishemberlal Mongia:

Born: Chandiragh Date of Birth: 17.04.1977 Debut: Yet to make Test debut Other Teams: Plays for Punjab in domestic cricket. Left-hand batsman.

Is yet to play in a test. Has come out successfully in the shorter version of the game and amassed a personal best of 159* against the Zimbabwean attack at Gauhati on 19.03.2002. Has been a prolific scorer in domestic cricket. Was due to go to South Africa as Captain of India 'A' team in March 2002 but selected to tour West Indies based on his performance in LOIs and domestic cricket this season.

Ajay Surjanlal Ratra:

Born: Faridabad Date of Birth: 13.12.1981 Debut: Yet to make Test Debut Other Teams: Plays for Haryana in domestic cricket. Right Hand Batsman and Wicket-Keeper.

Has assumed significant importance as the best wicket-keeper in the shorter version of the game within a short space of time and in the limited chances that have come to him. Has shown tremendous guts and commitment behind the stumps.

The tour provides an opportunity for him to perform consistently to ensure a firm footing in the Indian squad. He was a Member of the Under-19 World Cup to Sri Lanka in 1999/00.

Extras:
India's Performance in West Indies