While names like Kohli, Sangwan, Srivastava and Abdulla have been figuring in headlines for some time, there are a few unknown but interesting players in India's World Cup squad. Here's looking at four cricketers who could prove to be the surprise package in Malaysia.
Siddharth Kaul
HE is being touted as the most fit 17-year-old Indian cricketer ever. Punjab Ranji coach Gurcharan Singh insists that he should be quoted verbatim when he says: "This boy will certainly play for the Indian senior." Siddharth finished with five wickets in his debut Ranji game against Orissa but what impressed the coach the most was his work ethics. "How many people you know run for two hours after a hard day's toil on field?" is Gursharan's needless query since he is aware that the answer is a 'No'.
But a bit of background check makes one understand that Siddharth was fated to be an athlete with amazing stamina. His father Dr Tej Kaul is a noted coach and physiotherapist with the Sports Authority of India while his mother Sandhya Kaul is national gymnastics champion. With Dr Kaul connected to the Gwalior pace academy when Siddharth learnt to walk, the youngster was hooked to hurling the ball early in his life. "Since my wife was away for competition at times, the aaya used to bring Siddharth to the nets. So he was always running around with other boys," says the father.
That's a habit that has stuck with Siddharth till date. His off-season schedule includes juggling between 15 kms running, an hour of swimming, long cycling trip and, of course, bowling at nets in the evening every day. "I have drawn a schedule for him that he follows strictly," says Dr Kaul. Siddharth isn't all brawn but brain too. Back to Gurcharan. "I was quite impressed by the way he got former Test opener SS Das out in his debut Ranji game. Repeated out swinger and a killer in cutter. Das left the ball that took his stumps," he recalls.
Napoleon Einstein
HIS scientist grandfather has a thing for unusual but well-known names. His father is Napoleon and he is...well, Einstein. It's not known if Napoleon had ANY political ambition, but physics does have a role to play in young Einstein's cricketing career. The offie's perfect loop has a lot of science to it. Former left-armer Maninder Singh was impressed by the parabola the ball drew after leaving...
