A fluent and strokeful middle order bat, Sanjay Raul got his first
big break on the India 'A' tour of Pakistan in early 1998. An impressive unbeaten 115 in the third `Test' at Lahore was a pointer
to his immense talent. In September, the Board, in typically ham-handed fashion, chose to split the Indian team between the Sahara Cup and the
Commonwealth Games and Raul fortuitously slipped into the Toronto
contingent. Batting at No's 7 and 8 in his two appearances, Raul
failed either time. His placid off breaks were a trifle more
successful, getting the better of Inzamam-ul-Haq on one occasion.
His best domestic season was in 1996-97 when he topped the batting
and bowling averages for Orissa with 644 runs and 37 wickets.
(Sankhya Krishnan)
