‘6+1’ equals 1: Yes, it is true with the Indian team!
Thursday, March 13 2003 15:48 Hrs (IST)

Centurion: India has two "batting captains", two "bowling captains", two "fielding captains" and Saurav Ganguly, the real skipper -- making as many as seven "captains".

As commentators the world over analyse the remarkable resurgence of the Indian team, the official website of the tournament on Thursday came out with an unusual explanation for India's march into the semi-finals.

Players encouraging each other and the 'Great Indian Huddle' after the fall of every wicket are just the visible features of their campaign. What remains from the public gaze is the fact that the team is actually led not just by Saurav Ganguly, but also by six other players.

The team, after long deliberations, has appointed two "batting captains", two "bowling captains" and two "fielding captains," the website said.

These six "captains" convey to the rest what is expected of them in the next game as the players do their nets.

Senior members Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid head the batting department, while Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble oversee the bowlers' performance during the training sessions.

Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif take care of the fielding department.

As the squad takes the field for training and nets, young turks Yuvraj and Kaif do not hesitate to pull up the seniors for any loose fielding during the nets, while Srinath and Kumble don the mantle as the bowling coaches for the side.

Similarly, Sachin and Dravid give valuable tips to their teammates on batting.

The final meeting, held on the eve of every match, is however supervised by skipper Saurav Ganguly and coach John Wright, the website said.

These innovative techniques introduced by Wright and Ganguly have definitely worked wonders for the team and is evident from its successful campaign for the World Cup.

PTI

Extras:
It was just a few idiots out of a billion: Dravid
Rows and bickering blew us off course: Streak