<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Indian cricket has posted a winning score in 2003. Team India began the year with its near-successful World Cup campaign in South Africa and is now running an equally exciting Test campaign against World Champions Australia Down Under.<br /><br />In between, India were bowled out on several occasion: the 0-2 Test washout and the pathetic 2-5 ODI series in New Zealand, the ignominious start in South Africa against minnows Netherlands (the public anger bubbled over in March), the Kiwi tour of India which the hosts struggled to draw and, finally, the TVS Cup washout.<br /><br />Ups and downs apart, Team India triumphed in 2003.
Indiatimes takes a look at the cricketers that made it possible and the players that can shape India''s destiny in 2004.<br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br /><img align="left" src="/photo/385707.cms" alt="/photo/385707.cms" border="0" /><br /></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Sachin Tendulkar</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385708.cms" alt="/photo/385708.cms" border="0" />The Master Blaster might be struggling for runs in Australia but the Man-of-the-Series of the World Cup was the highest run-getter in South Africa with a record 673 runs. In the crunch match against Pakistan, Tendulkar took pacer Shoaib Akhtar apart. India''s first cricket clash with Pakistan in three years was billed as “a war minus the shooting� and the balls that sped from Tendulkar''s bat (98 from 75 deliveries) were nothing short of the scud missiles fired at the Pakistanis.<br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385707.cms" alt="/photo/385707.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Sourav Ganguly</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385709.cms" alt="/photo/385709.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">The Bengal Tiger is the vital glue to Team India. He gave his boys the much-needed killer instinct during the World Cup. Call it the Great India Huddle or the resurgence of Indian cricket, Ganguly leads from the front. Credited with shepharding newcomers like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, the captain stands by his boys. Ganguly the batsman is also no pushover. The second highest scorer in the World Cup with 465 runs, the prince of Kolkata hit the maximum sixes. The dramatic Test win at Adelaide in Australia has added another feather to the Indian skipper''s cap.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385707.cms" alt="/photo/385707.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Rahul Dravid</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385710.cms" alt="/photo/385710.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">With the Adelaide win, the Mr Dependable has finally stepped out of the shadow of Sachin Tendulkar. He has emerged as India''s saviour in more than one occasion this year. The team man that he is, Dravid made no demur when he was asked to keep wickets in the one-dayers. The most consistent run getter for India in 2003, Dravid cemented his stamp on world cricket with his amazing double century at the Adelaide Test scoring 305 runs in just one Test.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section4"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385707.cms" alt="/photo/385707.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">VVS Laxman</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385711.cms" alt="/photo/385711.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">The Hyderabadi batsman was made the scapegoat after India''s humiliating New Zealand tour and lost a World Cup berth. But a string of hundreds in domestic cricket, ensured the stylish batsman a place in the national side. Laxman''s class has always been unquestioned but the dream comeback saw some great performances in the home series against New Zealand and then a scintillating 148 against the Australians at Adelaide in the second Test.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section5"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385707.cms" alt="/photo/385707.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Ajit Agarkar</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385712.cms" alt="/photo/385712.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">The fastest to reach the 50-wickets milestone in one day cricket, has surprised even himself with his spectacular form in the Adelaide Test. Agarkar’s had five ducks in his last tour to Australia and earned the title of ''Bombay Duck''. But it was the Aussies he sent quacking in 2003. Agarkar''s bowling figures of six wickets for just 41 runs swung the match in India''s favour with the mighty Australians bowled out for under 200 for the first time in their own backyard.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section6"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385713.cms" alt="/photo/385713.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Zaheer Khan</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385714.cms" alt="/photo/385714.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">Zaheer Khan has taken over the mantle of leading India''s new ball attack after Javagal Srinath''s retirement. The left-arm seamer’s performance in the World Cup was up there with the best. Zaheer''s sensational return in the Gabba Test that triggered a rare Australian collapse, had a lot to do with the new coach Bruce Reid. Zaheer remains India''s best bet for both forms of cricket. He can bowl with fire and at the same time exercise control. An ideal mix.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section7"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385713.cms" alt="/photo/385713.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Irfan Pathan</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385715.cms" alt="/photo/385715.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">The new bowling sensation for India, Pathan has had a fair outing in Australia, never the easiest of tours. Pathan has modelled himself on Zaheer Khan and regards Pakistani Wasim Akram as his guru. With Ashish Nehra plagued by injuries, Pathan will play a pivotal role as the second left-arm seamer for India in the years to come.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section8"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385713.cms" alt="/photo/385713.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Murali Kartik</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385716.cms" alt="/photo/385716.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">The Indian selectors have been less than fair to this left-arm orthodox spinner. He was conspicuous by his absence in the Australia tour after being the best bowler in the TVS Cup. In an unprecedented move, Kartik was flown to Australia to boost India''s spin department after Harbhajan injured his finger. With Anil Kumble at the fag end of his career and Harbhajan no longer the force that he was, Kartik hold the key to India’s spin future.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section9"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385713.cms" alt="/photo/385713.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Virender Sehwag</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385717.cms" alt="/photo/385717.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">One of the most talented cricketers in recent times to take guard for India, Sehwag is India’s future. Sehwag might be flamboyant but then so was Sachin Tendulkar when he first burst on the scene. A more than useful bowler, Sehwag will be an inherent part of India''s fortunes in both forms of cricket.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section10"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385713.cms" alt="/photo/385713.cms" border="0" /><br /><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="100.0%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" color:="" ffffff="" font-weight:="" bold="">Yuvraj Singh</span></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:=""> <div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/385718.cms" alt="/photo/385718.cms" border="0" /><span style="" font-size:="">Yuvraj is one of the firebrand tribe of cricketers discovered by skipper Sourav Ganguly. A livewire on the field and an exciting strokeplayer, Yuvraj Singh has played match-winning innings for India on numerous occasions. Another useful bowler, Yuvraj Singh will be one of the deciding factors for India, especially in the shorter version of the game.</span><br /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"></div> </div>
