Only the second player from Orissa to win a Test call-up, the pint sized Shiv Sunder Das scored a polished 110 in only his third game, against Zimbabwe in Nagpur. In the face of a chronic scarcity of competent Test openers, Das could be just the man to step into the breach. Blessed with a serene temperament, he focuses on keeping the game simple, prodding the scoreboard through an array of sound shots without trying to be flashy. A former India Under-17 captain, Das has journeyed through the ranks of junior level cricket with distinction. Although making 98 on his first class debut as a 16-year-old in the 1993-94 Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinals, he was no overnight prodigy, honing his abilities over several seasons of domestic cricket.
His big break came in May 2000 when he was selected to the National Cricket Academy and got the chance to interact closely with his idol Sunil Gavaskar among others. In June-July, Das visited the Australian Cricket Academy under the Gavaskar-Border scholarship, which he believes was the best thing that happened to him. The intensive six week course instilled a sense of professionalism in Das whose technique was tightened up and his preferred backfoot play refined, especially cutting and pulling. He also has ample opportunity now to sharpen his leadership skills, taking over as East Zone captain this season in addition to his duties as captain of Orissa
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