Hectic morning practice and lunch is over; its time to unwind before the big game tomorrow. The Haryana team finds a game of tennis ball cricket refreshing and one man gets ready to roll his arm over. Smacked for two sixes and a four, his authority has been ‘dented’, even as the entire team spills into laughter.

Hand him the red cherry instead and, in nippy conditions that prevail here, he’s a dangerous customer. There’s a certain methodology with which Joginder Sharma has shaped up this season (highest wicket taker). Left out of the Indian team in 2003, the Haryana skipper has been working on his accuracy and has put in relentless hours in the nets.

“My batting has been good and I wanted to stress more with the ball. I wanted to improve on my line and length and thus bowled on cement wickets because anything short or full, it’s easier for the batsman to hit. Also I worked with the white ball and the old ball. I didn’t consciously work on my pace, but my teammates tell me it has increased. I feel that I am bowling around 130 kmph,” he says.

And then comes the big question. What about the 12th of January? “Kissko intezaar nahin hai us din ka,” Joginder says with a wry smile. He’s a big name here in these parts but his counterpart in Delhi is a bigger name —Virender Sehwag.

It’s a bit ironic but both leaders find themselves distinctly wrapped in optimism, sitting on two different poles when the selectors sit to name the 30 probables for the World Cup and team for the ODIs against West Indies.

... contd.