Yuvraj Singh is no stranger to attention. On Saturday, when he walks
down the pavilion steps at Visakhapatnam (provided he is picked), he can
expect the kind of standing ovation and cheers normally reserved for
Sachin Tendulkar at grounds all over the world. His faster-than-expected
return from germ cell cancer is an inspiration to millions and even if
his contributions turn out to be underwhelming, his team-mates will
savour his return to the dressing room.
Yuvraj has had no serious match practice, but those who've watched him
train remarked that he was hitting the ball as hard as ever. His
inclusion in the squad show that the selectors and team management value
his presence, even with strings attached. he has just two games before
the World Twenty20 later this month to prove that his selection was
inspired. The danger, though, is that the hype will overawe the match
itself, and India's captain MS Dhoni made a plea not to let Yuvraj's
return distract the team.
India will have had played six Twenty20 games this year before leaving
for Sri Lanka. New Zealand on the other hand have been the busiest,
having already played seven in 2012. While teams look to stack their
calendar with matches in a World T20 year, India's previous bilateral
series, in Sri Lanka, included just one Twenty20 (following a five-ODI
series). India, curiously, have never been involved in a bilateral
series featuring more than two games. This series will only be their
fifth bilateral series, out of 14, involving two games. Fortunately for
India, most of the players picked for this series and the World T20 are
regulars in the one-day squad, so they understand each other's game
well.
Despite packing their international schedule with Twenty20s, New Zealand
have slumped, and are coming off four consecutive defeats, against
South Africa and a resurgent West Indies. It didn't help that their most
recent games, in Florida, were heavy losses (56 and 61 runs
respectively), with injuries hampering their plans. They will be boosted
by the return of Daniel Vettori from injury and he will at least be an
asset with his containing role, even if he doesn't pick up wickets.
Having run India close in the Bangalore Test, they will begin this
series feeling more confident. Now with a fitter squad, they will begin
their preparation for the World T20 with games against three tough
opponents - India, Australia and South Africa (the last two part of the
warm-ups in Sri Lanka).
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