HARARE - India are again planning to drop star batsman Sachin Tendulkar down the order for tonight's crunch game against Zimbabwe in a bid to resurrect their World Cup campaign.
Sourav Ganguly's team need a win to stay in contention for a place in the Super Six, and the situation is creating confusion in the ranks.
Tendulkar, one-day cricket's leading batsman, who was shuffled up and down the order over the last 12 months to create the ideal balance, again finds himself facing a change.
Demoted last year as opener, where he has scored all but one of his record 33 one-day centuries, Tendulkar was given back his opening berth for the cup and responded with top scores of 52 and 36 in the first two games.
But with the rest of the batting falling apart - India failed to last 50 overs against the Netherlands and were shot out for 125 by Australia - sources close to the team say dropping Tendulkar back down is again being contemplated.
Tendulkar could drop down to No 4 while Ganguly, who has scored just 75 runs in his last nine innings, could also abandon his opening slot to bat at No 5.
It appears certain that hard-hitting batsman Virender Sehwag will open the innings, probably with Dinesh Mongia. Rahul Dravid is expected to be at No 3.
Ganguly, who admitted after Sunday's defeat against Australia that he had no clue how to revive the team, would not comment on the proposed reshuffle.
"What needs to be done in the team's interest will be done."
Zimbabwe fancy their chances. Left-hander Andy Flower averages 94.93 in test matches and 41.16 in ODIs against the Indians.
When India last played Zimbabwe at the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September, Flower hit a superb 145 before Ganguly's team won by 14 runs.
Heath Streak's home team thrashed newcomers Namibia in their first cup opener before earning four bonus points when England decided to forfeit their game here for security reasons.
Zimbabwe are now well-placed to join Australia in the Super Six from pool A, leaving India, Pakistan and England to battle for the third spot.
Meanwhile India's fanatical supporters have been burning effigies of Ganguly in Calcutta and players' images are being set alight in the streets in protest at their poor form.
Fans yelled "Down with Ganguly" after staging a mock funeral for the player in Calcutta. Police are keeping a watch on his house in that city.
In Bombay, fans burned posters of Tendulkar, Ganguly and Sehwag and in the northern city of Allahabad fans hurled black paint and oil at the house of middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif.
- AGENCIES
World Cup schedule
Points table
Cricket: Desperate India tipped to push Tendulkar down order
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