No southern comfort for Team India

The team, they claimed, would mostly consist of players from the south.

They cited the example of Srikkanth's predecessor Dilip Vengsarkar's tenure when players from the West Zone got a chance to don national colours.

However, the playing XI in both of India's opening matches in the ongoing T20 competition has been conspicuous by the absence of any player from southern India.

In fact, only one player (Tamil Nadu's Dinesh Karthik who replaces the injured Virendra Sehwag) represents the south in the 15-man squad.

In the inaugural T20 competition, three players from the south -- Karthik, Robin Uthappa and S Sreesanth -- featured in the national side with the latter two players regularly seen in the starting line-up.

Besides Karthik, Sreesanth and Uthappa, the selectors gave players like Lakshmipathy Balaji, M P Vijay and S Badrinath ample scope to prove their worth. Perhaps their performances weren't good enough to impress the selectors. And that explains the present situation.

When was the last time that no player from the south was part of Team India's playing XI?

We are still studying the game's annals to locate an answer. It is a tough ask for sure. However, at the moment, it should suffice to say it hasn't happened in a long time.

But the 27-year-old represents (whenever he will, that is) Jharkhand in domestic competitions.

His performance with the bat may be topsy turvy of late, but his captaincy continues to conquer new frontiers.

Gautam Gambhir has now more responsibilities on his shoulders.

The solid opener from Delhi has taken up the role of the senior partner with immaculate ease.

How else would you describe his unbeaten 45-ball 52 against Ireland?

The Mumbai youngster was, in the course of his innings, also involved in a 77-run opening partnership (in just 65 balls) that set up the run chase for India.

The half-century followed his quickfire 23-ball 36 against Bangladesh on Saturday.

And we are yet to forget his awe-inspiring 80 from 53 deliveries against Pakistan in the warm-up match.

The former, a star of the winning campaign in the inaugural T20 edition, showed flashes of brilliance in a blazing knock of 41 from just 18 deliveries against Bangladesh, an innings that included four sixes and three boundaries.

The Punjab star, Kings Punjab skipper and Mumbai resident can also be a handy bowler in this format. Did we mention two hat-tricks in IPL II?

With his Chennai Superkings mate and skipper promoting himself up the order, the young UP star has not got an opportunity yet to prove his worth.

He came in towards the fag end against Bangladesh and didn't bat against Ireland.

Even though he sometimes checks the flow of runs, the Punjab and Mumbai Indians off-spinner has been struggling to take wickets.

The Mumbai and Mumbai Indians star came up with a fine spell of fast bowling as India crushed Ireland by eight wickets in their second match.

The left-arm pacer took four wickets for 19 runs in three overs.

The Deccan Chargers left-arm spinner hails from Orissa.

A consistent performer in IPL II -- he took 18 wickets in the Deccan Chargers's march to triumph -- has continued his good form in the T20 contest.