index index Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. GENIUS seems too mild a word.

A child prodigy,the Bombay captain is the most popular cricketer in the current squad. He is one of the most experienced players in the team despite his relative youth.His is the most precocious batting talent in International cricket, and he is rated by many as the leading exponent of the art, although he has yet to statistically fully justify that mantle. His technique is impeccable, he packs tremendous power and strength into his short, stocky frame, and his ability to time the ball is exemplary. He has all the shots in the book and more, and appears able to play them with conviction against any kind of bowling on any kind of surface. The only possible question mark against him is his temperament. His performance in one-day cricket, whilst uninspiring initially, has been nothing short of spectacular since he moved to the opening slot, where he now averages around 50. His shrewd cricketing brain has enabled him to develop into a very effective bowler in the "slog overs" in one day cricket, as he stretches the use of variety to its extremes. He is also a quick and agile fielder, and is the proverbial extrovert and enthusiast in the field. He took over the Indian captaincy in 1997, with mixed results and was replaced in early 1998.