Chance lost
The West Indies tour has offered an opportunity to many young Turks in the Indian squad to shine but not many have delivered
Abhijit Chatterjee

THE forced absence of more than half the World Cup winning squad from the tour of the West Indies due to either injury or fatigue gave a wonderful opportunity to the “young Turks” of Indian cricket to stake their claim for a permanent place in the national squad if not now then in the foreseeable future. But that did not happen.

India might have beaten the West Indies 3-2 in the five-game ODI series but many players who had promised much while playing in the domestic circuit could not live up to expectations. Although it might be too early to write them off completely, a number of cricketers might have to reinvent themselves if they hope to make a mark in the international circuit in times to come.

True, India did win the series, but the victory was achieved by players whose talent was never in doubt. Leading the pack of the Indian batsmen was Rohit Sharma, who was the highest scorer from either side with a total of 257 runs from five innings at an astonishing average of 128.50, and a highest of an unbeaten 86, which came in the third game of the series and helped the tourists to clinch the series. Rohit might have been a bit unlucky not to find a place in the World Cup squad but he can blame only himself for this because the selectors had given enough time to cement his place in the national squad. That did not happen but may be his performance in this tour will help him realise his full potential.

The player who stood out in this series was Virat Kohli (above right), who might have scored fewer runs than Rohit Sharma (left) but was equally impressive Photos: AFP, AP/PTI

Rohit Sharma first came into the limelight in the under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006 and came up with a brilliant performance when he played for India in their triumphant World Twenty20 campaign and the CB Series in Australia in early 2008, scoring two fifties, including a vital 66 in the first final in Sydney. He was briefly a regular fixture in the Indian limited-over side, and pressed a claim for higher things through two centuries in the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy final, a feat last achieved by Sachin Tendulkar and only four others before him. However, his lack of consistency meant he wasn't a part of India's World Cup-winning squad. May be, the performance in this series will help him to realise his dream.

But if Rohit Sharma was reinventing himself, the player to watch out in this series was Virat Kohli, who might have scored fewer runs than Rohit Sharma but was equally impressive. India might have lost the last game of the series at Kingston but the way Kohli came in and steadied the Indian innings after quick initial losses indicates the long cricketing journey he has covered. Unlucky to miss a century for the second time on the tour, Kohli ended up at 94 before being run out and in all scored 199 runs (average 39.80) in the series. Whatever else Virat might lack he does not lack confidence and that was on show in abundant measure right through the series. His presence has also helped India to improve his fielding by a couple of notches as was seen in the World Cup and the good work has continued in the West Indies.

The tour of the West Indies had given players like S. Badrinath, Shikhar Dhawan and Manoj Tiwary an opportunity to showcase their talent on the international arena. But, unfortunately, all failed to come up to expectations. Delhi opener Shikhar Dhawan did start the series on a high when he notched up a fifty plus score in the opening game at Port of Spain. But then his batting went into pieces and he could muster only 18 more runs from three more games. Dhawan’s tally of 69 runs for an average of 17.25 can hardly encourage the national selectors to give him another look.

Tamil Nadu’s S. Badrinath came into the squad on the basis of his tremendous showing in the domestic circuit. Badrinath has been the mainstay of the Tamil Nadu batting since the mid-2000s, and has also captained them. He came into national reckoning in 2005-06, when he nearly topped the batting charts, scoring 636 runs from seven matches at an average of almost 80. He was named as Sachin Tendulkar's replacement for the Sri Lanka series in 2008 and impressed in his first appearance to see India through to a win. He made it to the Test squad for Australia's 2008-09 tour of India, but didn't get a game. However, a series of injuries to the Indian middle order handed Badrinath a Test debut in Nagpur more than a year later, at the age of 29. He was off the radar after a couple of Tests but another year of heavy run-getting in the domestic circuit earned him a place in the Indian team for the West Indies tour with so many senior players opting out.

But given his performance in this tour (four matches, 40 runs, 17 highest and an average of 13.33) it seems that this middle-order batsman will have to be content with playing in the domestic circuit.

Bengal’s Manoj Tiwary also failed to impress in the limited opportunity he got in the tour. In the first two games of the series he played in, he could muster only 24 runs with 22 of them coming in the Port of Spain game. At 26, Manoj might think that he could get another look-in from the selectors but the same cannot be said of 30-year-old Badrinath, who might find it difficult to find a place in the national squad once again with a whole group of talented youngsters waiting in the wings.

What went wrong with all these talented batsmen with so many runs under their belt? The West Indies team, a pale shadow of their former selves, did not pose much of a challenge and the tourists lost the last two games only after the series had been clinched and, therefore, there is probably no need to read too much into the defeats. But what must be troubling the players who get an opportunity to showcase their talent is that they frittered away the opportunity, which might not come again soon.

Among the new crop of Indian bowlers Tamil Nadu’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was touted as being as talented as Harbhajan Singh. Unfortunately, during this series he did not get adequate opportunity to showcase his talent, with Harbhajan playing in the first three games which India won. In the two games that Ashwin played in, he could gather just one wicket, giving away 89 runs, not flattering figures for somebody who someday hopes to pose a challenge to the “Turbanator”. But Ashwin’s time will come.

Fitness mantra
 Travel treats
Deepika Sharma

Summer is the time for a lot of family get-togethers and vacations. The true definition of a vacation is "a period spent away from home or business in recreation or a time of respite from something." Unfortunately, many people extend this definition to their diet and exercise plans as well. But remember, health doesn't take a vacation.

Travelling away from home is a norm for many families during this season. You want to get away from the routine and also get away from the kitchen. But how do you ensure that you and your family are eating healthy when the kitchen is not in your hands? Here are some strategies that can help you enjoy good food along with a great vacation.

Before you leave, plan some of your meals both on the way and at your destination. Bring along healthy on-the-go snacks for the car or plane ride so you will not be tempted to stop for a fast food.

Here are a few tasty as well as healthy options.

Nuts: During the journey, instead of snacking on salt-laden chips or sugary treats, nibble on dried fruits and nuts. These are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre, good fats and proteins. Dried fruits and nuts can be added to puffed rice or rice flakes to make an ideal snack that is healthy and satisfying.

Dry cereals: Not just for breakfast, dry cereal is a great alternative to chips. It satisfies an urge to crunch and delivers a boost of fibre and vitamins. One can also prepare low-fat panjeeri with roasted suji, dry fruits and very little fat. Paranthas with some nutritious vegetable filling are very convenient and tasty as well.

Fruits: Always a great choice, fruit is filling and thirst quenching, which makes it a good choice for travel. Go for fruits like peaches, apricots, litchis and apples, which are easy to carry ... Avoid fruits that get easily bruised like bananas, pears, or strawberries. Do some homework on what fruits and vegetables are famous during this season in the area that you are travelling. This will enable you to relish some exotic fruits and vegetables that might not routinely find their way into your kitchen.

Beverages: Go easy on alcoholic beverages — the calories can really add up quickly. Try alternating with a glass of water, nimbu pani or low-calorie fruit-flavoured water. We tend to consume more aerated drinks during summer, but water is a smarter choice. It keeps the body cool and prevents dehydration and it also helps you avoid adding on the unnecessary calories. Fresh lime water and coconut water are also a great thirst-quenchers, especially during the summer. Prefer to carry your own drinking water to avoid infections.Freeze water bottles and toss them into your cooler. As they defrost, they will keep your foods cool, too.

Milk and milk products: It is difficult to ensure the quality of milk when you are away from home. Always insist on bottled and pasteurised milk. Include at least some form of curd or yoghurt in your meals. Buttermilk is a known cooler. Besides, tasting delicious, it has several health benefits, too. Add a dash of mint to enhance the taste. Mint has it's own benefits, too.

For dining out, research your vacation spots for local restaurants and browse their menus for good diet choices, but don't be too restrictive. Allow yourself to indulge on specialty foods from the region you are visiting. Building in a few well-thought-out splurges makes the vacation enjoyable. One can always be careful the next day.

If you are near the beach, prefer fish and seafood so that it is fresher and not stored.

Exercise and vacation: There is no point travelling to a new place to be sitting locked up in the hotel room or in front of the TV. If you are travelling to a hill station, trekking and long walks can be the physical activity you can be involved in. If you are staying in a hotel with a gym and or swimming pool, you can experience the facilities to stay physically active.

So, go ahead, enjoy yourself . Just keep the right and healthy food choices in mind.

The writer is a dietician, Department of Dietetics, PGI