R P Singh and Sreesanth ruled out from the first Test match

Nov 21:   The pace duo R P Singh and Sreesanth, who brought the house down have been ruled out of the first test match to be played at Kotla in Delhi.

It is the injuries which will keep them off from the Feroz Shah Kotla ground from the first match of the test series starting from November 22.

Niranjan Shah BCCI Secretary said that they are replaced by right arm pacer Munaf Patel but the statement did not specify R P Singh’s injuries while Sreesanth injured his shoulder in Jaipur ODI.

MS Dhoni did not show any sign of pain while practicing the match, he hurt his ankle while batting in the fifth and final ODI match at Jaipur.

Meanwhile the new captain of Test Series Anil Kumble is ready to live up to the expectation and is sounding very positive.

Playing at Kotla will be nostalgic for him who scripted his name on the record book by taking 10 wickets against Pakistan in 1999.

Anil who has taken the new job as a team leader said, “Whatever the job demands I’ll do. As a captain, it is for me to be the voice of the team. I’ll not try and shy away from my responsibilities.”

“I have fond memories of Delhi, naturally,” he sounded nostalgic. “I am happy that I will be making my debut as Test captain at this venue. I am confident we will win the Test.”

It was the Test match against Pakistan at the Kotla in 1999 which gave a glorious moment to the Indian Team, after taking the 10 wickets in an innings he registered his name as the second individual to do so after Jim Laker of England.

While the curator Radhey Shyam Sharma sounded very promising about the pitch and said that it is prepared to give results.

He hailed second day as the best for batting while third and fourth day will favour spinner to show there spinning fervour.

It was Anil’s 10 wicket haul against Pakistan and this is the same ground where Sunil Gavaskar equalled Sir Don Bradman’s highest number of century record.

This renovated Kotla ground is ready for a déjà vu with all illuminating memories being etched on its ground.

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has also expressed his hopes saying, “It’ll be great if the Kotla pitch doesn’t change. It seems to help fast bowlers and that would suit us”.