By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian cricket team will be looking to redeem itself when it leaves for an 81-day tour to face South Africa in three one-dayers in Ireland and England in three Tests and seven one-day internationals.
A new manager in former captain Chandu Borde and a comparatively young team with Mahendra Singh Dhoni as new vice captain for the Ireland series, India will aim to turn the wheel of fortune after the World Cup debacle.
India suffered a shocking first-round exit from the World Cup in the West Indies after they lost to Sri Lanka and minnows Bangladesh in March, which also brought an end to the controversial tenure of Greg Chappell as coach.
But post World Cup, India under a stopgap manager, Ravi Shastri, did well in Bangladesh, winning both the Test and the one-day series despite rains.
The team can well take confidence from that performance but will need a lot more to fight it out against South Africa and England.
And with the infusion of some young blood in the form of Piyush Chawla, Rohit Sharma coupled with the experience of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, the boys in blue have all the ammunition to take the fight to the opposition.
The series will also be of special importance for Ganguly and Tendulkar, as they were "rested" in the one-dayers against Bangladesh.
The Ireland matches start Saturday with a one-day game against Ireland, followed by three-one dayers against South Africa (June 26, 29 and July 1). The focus will then shift to England where India will face the hosts in a three-Test series starting July 19.
England has been a happy hunting ground for Ganguly, right from the day he made his Test debut at Lords with a century to the Natwest Trophy win at the same venue under his leadership 2002.
Ganguly will be hoping to make the best of the opportunity, given his form after he made his way back into the team last year.
India will also have a lively new-ball attack in Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar and Rudra Pratap Singh.
Teams:
For one-dayers in Ireland:
Rahul Dravid (captain), Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper/vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh.
For Tests in England:
Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar (vice-captain), Sourav Ganguly, Wasim Jaffer, V.V.S Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Anil Kumble, Ramesh Powar, Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose.