Anil Kumble (nicknamed "Jumbo")- Karnataka, Right Arm Leg Spinner

 Right Handed Batsman An unorthodox, right arm leg spin bowler, this tall, bespectacled (now contact lens-ed), captain of Karnataka, who started life as a medium-pacer, is India`s most effective strike bowler in both Tests and ODIs. He made his debut in England in 1990, alongside Narendra Hirwani, raising hopes of a resurgence in the art of leg-spin. But it was not until his recall against South Africa 16 months later that he proved his abilities on the International stage. Since then he went from strength to strength. It is his well concealed googly and flipper, along with his genuine medium-pace faster balls that are his strike weapons rather than the leg-break, which he turns little. He is unfailingly economical and in the 1995 English county season became the first bowler in 5 years to capture more than 100 wickets. A useful lower-order batsmen, with first-class centuries to his credit, Kumble has often done a sterling job holding up the sagging tail for India. Suffering from being over-bowled, Kumble recieved a well deserved rest from the national side in 1997, missing the tour of Sri Lanka and the Sahara Cup but was recalled to the national side to face Sri Lanka and Australia in 1998. He has bowled superbly in 1998 so far, being India's highest wicket taker in tests as well as having the best strike rate and economy in one dayers.

Nayan Mongia- Baroda, Right Handed Batsman, Wicketkeeper

 An excellent wicket keeper- sharp behind the stumps, and is always ready to shout himself hoarse appealing in support of the bowlers. His judgement will keeping to spinners- especially Anil Kumble- is superb. He has been fined many times for over-appealing. A keen and enthusiastic wicket-keeper, Nayan Mongia has served India in exemplary fashion since replacing his Baroda teammate and captain Kiran More behind the stumps. His glovework is very skillful, neat and tidy, without ever being flashy and he has effected several lightning quick stumpings off the bowling of India`s spin trios, whilst always looking more than competent standing back to the hostile Srinath. Much to the surprise of many skeptics, he has also proved a valuable and versatile batsman. He bats regularly at number 7 for India, although he has also opened the innings, and has played a few useful knocks there

Javagal Srinath- Right Arm Fast Bowler, Right Handed Batsman

 Javagal Srinath is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack and the only bowler in India capable of producing the speeds generally associated with West Indian or South African pacemen. Srinath suffered a testing introduction to Test cricket when despite impressing Allan Border no end on his debut tour to Australia, and performing creditably on the ill-fated South African tour of 1992, he was unable to play a part in India`s tremendous home successes due to the "spin trio + Kapil Dev + Prabhakar" selection policy. After Kapil Dev`s retirement, he finally broke back into the playing XI and has not looked back. Statistically his Test record is tarnished by his early tours, but he is very much the genuine article as a speed merchant now, having been compared with Allan Donald for sheer pace during his 1995 stint with the English county of Goucestershire. He has had injury problems in 1997 and 1998, possibly through being over-bowled and India's strenuous itinerary. His one-day bowling record is most impressive, and only Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis have taken 100 wickets in fewer matches. He is also a useful tail-end bat, capable of scoring runs at a brisk pace, although early indications that he could mature into a true all-rounder have not amounted to much as yet.

Ventkatesh Prasad- Karnataka, Right Arm Fast bowler

This fast-medium swing bowler from Karnataka established himself in the Indian side on the 1996 tour of England, where conditions suited his combination of swing and seam admirably. Given his height and build, his lack of genuine pace is somewhat surprising, but he has good control of movement in the air and off the seam. He has developed a superb leg cutter, and a well disguised slower ball. With injuries to his opening partner Srinath, Prasad bore the brunt of the Indian pace attack over the course of a very busy 1996-97 season. The leading wicket taker in Tests in 1996, he bowled superbly against South Africa, but was clearly jaded in mid 1997. He was rested, apparently against his will, with an ill defined injury for the tour of Sri Lanka, and a couple of one day tournaments before finally returning to the team in late 1997. He is back in form in 1998 and is bowling with accuracy once again. He was the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year 1996.