Kolkata, June 26 (IANS) West Bengal pacer Ranadeb Bose left Tuesday for Ireland to join Team India, who are struggling to field a team against South Africa in Belfast because of eight players being laid low with viral fever.
The 29-year-old, originally selected only for the three-Test Series against England, hopes to prove his worth in the shorter version of the game too if he gets a chance to play the ODIs against South Africa.
“I will certainly try to prove my potential as a one day bowler too if I get a chance to play against South Africa,” he said before taking off for Ireland via Mumbai Tuesday morning.
The 6-foot-four-inch Bose is certain to miss Tuesday’s first ODI but hopes to be ready for next two on Friday and Sunday.
“It’s a great opportunity for me and I will try very hard not to disappoint,” he said.
He also said that it was a proud moment for him and he would like to show that he was worthy of the India cap.
“Its a very special moment and I would like to prove my skills so that I can play for India and serve the Indian team,” he said while bidding an emotional good-bye to his parents who had come to see him off at the airport.
The Indian team management in Ireland sent an SOS Monday to draft three pacers – Ishant Sharma, Ranadeb Bose and Rakesh Patel – for the ODI series against South Africa.
Baroda medium pacer Patel, who is playing in league cricket in Liverpool, England, is the only one who can make it to Belfast in time for Tuesday’s clash.
Ajit Agarkar, S. Sreesanth, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and captain Rahul Dravid are all down with viral fever. The team’s fielding coach Robin Singh is also not feeling too well.