Bengaluru: Back in 1983, when Roger Binny was swinging the ball merrily in England in the World Cup en route to emerging the highest wicket-taker before India's heady triumph at Lord's, Stuart Binny wasn't even born.
Some 32 years later, the younger Binny, an all-rounder with striking similarities to his illustrious father and a Bengaluru boy gets a chance to emulate the deed following his inclusion in the 15-member squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, beginning Feb. 14.
At 30, Binny, isn't a raw talent unlike Gujarat's 20-year-old Axar Patel, a left-arm bowler, who can bat a bit.
But getting picked in the defending champions' squad to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be a dream come true for both. Last January when Binny was chosen for the New Zealand tour, questions were raised about his father, a national selector, and a possible conflict of interest.
Having pulled on the India cap in six ODIs and three Tests, Binny's all-round abilities appear to have swung the pendulum when the selection committee chose the team for the tri-series in Australia later this month and the subsequent World Cup, in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Binny, who came up with a dream spell scalping six for four against Bangladesh for the best figures by an Indian in June last year could well be the crucial cog in Dhoni's plans especially if all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja doesn't recover from his shoulder injury in time.
