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With 700 plus players set to represent 28 teams in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, the national selectors will have their task cut out to identity a group of back-ups to be in line with coach Anil Kumbles vision. ESPNcricinfo looks at five players who could have a breakthrough season.Kuldeep YadavKuldeep first rose to prominence at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup with his left-arm wristspin, to finish as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. One of few positives in a disappointing campaign, Kuldeep was expected to become a regular in Uttar Pradeshs first-class set-up almost immediately. But two seasons on, opportunities continue to remain elusive, partly because conditions up north, where UP have played a bulk of their matches. The presence of Piyush Chawla, the captain and legspinner, has also somewhat stunted his progress. But his performances at IPL 2016, where he delivered at key moments for Kolkata Knight Riders, and his start to the season with the Duleep Trophy - he picked up 17 wickets in three matches - have resulted in some hope. With Anil Kumble impressing on the need to have a pool of match-ready back-ups, Kuldeeps performances could be closely monitored should he earn the state selectors nod.Mayank AgarwalIts strange that Im recognised as a Delhi Daredevils batsman than Karnataka opener, Mayank Agarwal said last year after questions were raised over his batting style: more suited to the shorter formats. Those doubts may have been put on the back burner for the time being though. Agarwal came into his own during the season-opening Duleep Trophy, where he struck 420 runs in five innings, including a career-best 161.That he featured in just 19 first-class games since his debut in November 2013 was largely due to Karnatakas top-heavy batting line-up. The presence of KL Rahul and Robin Uthappa coupled with Agarwals inability to build on starts led to him being left out at various stages during Karnatakas treble-winning run in 2014 and 2015. With Rahul likely to slot back in to Indias Test line-up for the England series once he recovers from a hamstring injury, and Manish Pandey and Karun Nair in the mix for a middle-order berth, Agarwal will be one of the batting lynchpins. Having already represented India A in the limited-overs tri-series last year against Australia and South Africa, where he was the highest run-getter, consistent scores for Karnataka could further help him break into the national team.Shreyas IyerIf performances are the criterion for selection, Shreyas Iyer has done most things asked of him in his first two Ranji Trophy seasons. He followed up his debut season, where he made 809 runs, to become the highest run-getter last season (1321 runs), with four centuries, including a one from a dire situation in the final against Saurashtra in Pune. Only VVS Laxmans tally of 1415 runs for Hyderabad in 1999-2000 is higher than Iyers. In his innings of 117 in the final, he also went past the Mumbai record for most runs in a season, held by Wasim Jaffer (1260 runs in 2008-09). Iyer scored those runs at an average of 73.78 and strike rate of 92.70. The impressive performances have earned him a call-up to the India A team. Another impressive Ranji Trophy season could make it hard for the selectors to ignore him.Jayant YadavThe tall offspinner from Haryana has been on the radar since 2014, and is currently part of Indias Test squad for the home series against New Zealand. That he finds himself on the fringes was largely due to his performances for India A in Australia, where he picked seven wickets in two outings. Prior to that, he was part of Indias squad for the limited-overs series in Zimbabwe.Swinging conditions in Lahli have somewhat prevented him from bowling long spells, but he has used those opportunities to channelise his batting too - his career best of 211 not out in his second first-class season against Karnataka in 2012 being an indication of his potential. His threat with the ball has surfaced when Haryana have played away. With matches set to be played at neutral venues this season, Jayant has an opportunity to further boost his claim.He first rose to prominence in 2014-15, when he began the season with a six-for and took 13 wickets against Saurashtra in Rajkot. He was rewarded with selection for the India A squad for the home series against South Africa A and Bangladesh A last year. Jayant earned a berth in the India A squad for the tour of Australia in July-August this year after his season-ending performance in March; he claimed eight wickets for Rest of India against Mumbai in the Irani Cup, and remained unbeaten on 19 when his side completed their historic chase of 480.Nathu SinghThe Rajasthan pace bowler is widely regarded as one of the fastest in India today, but apprehensions have been raised about him going a similar way to Munaf Patel. Perhaps this is why his second full first-class season could be crucial to his development. He impressed in the Duleep Trophy, picking up eight wickets including a six-wicket haul in the opener. The manner in which he hustled the batsmen for pace and swung the ball late earned praise from selectors and opposition captains. He was complimented for the same qualities when he played for the Board Presidents XI in a tour game against South Africa in Mumbai last year. 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In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Fake Basketball Jerseys . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula.BRASILIA, Brazil -- Cowardly or not, Swedens defensive strategy against the United States got the job done.The Swedes stymied the powerful American attack and advanced to the womens soccer semifinals at the Olympics, leaving the U.S. team empty-handed and with their earliest exit from a major tournament.Thats the best team in the world. But for once, they didnt go the whole way through, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage said. They played more attacking football than we did. We defended very well. And the fact that it went to penalty kicks says something about our defending.Sundhage certainly knows the U.S. team. After all, she coached the Americans for five years and won gold medals at the Beijing and London Olympics. Current U.S. coach Jill Ellis was her assistant.The three-time defending champion United States had been the clear favorites in Brazil and would have been the first team to win an Olympic gold following a Womens World Cup title.After the loss, the attention fell on U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo for comments she made about Swedens tactics to go on the defensive. She said she?thought they were a bunch of cowards.We had that style of play when Pia was our coach. I dont think theyre going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very cowardly, Solo said. But they won. Theyre moving on. And were going home.While the park the bus strategy is often debated in soccer, Ellis simply drew the inevitable conclusion that it was successful.The game is the game, so I think, tactically, thats the coachs prerogative, the coachs choice, Ellis said. They look at their personnel, and they determine a game plan based on that. And I think to take us to penalty kicks is probably a good strategy because then it becomes a crapshoot, right?Can I criticize or knock someone for their tactics? No, thatss their choice.ddddddddddddOn Saturday, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati told Sports Illustrated that Solos remarks were highly inappropriate and not in line with the expectations of U.S. Soccer or the ideals of the Olympic movement.At a news briefing in Rio de Janeiro, IOC spokesman Mark Adams described Solos outburst as disappointing. However, he added that people are free to say those things. We wouldnt stop their right to express themselves, within boundaries, obviously.Lost in all the postgame drama was the spectacular play of Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who plays club soccer for Chelsea. The 33-year-old national team veteran turned away six shots on goal before prevailing in the shootout.Youve got to be pumped if you win against the world champions. Just playing against the U.S., on paper, you think, Oh my God, this is going to demand something special from me, Lindahl said. I think its something that happens automatically: You get really inspired and focused. It brings out the best of me, at least, when I play against the U.S.Sweden had only beaten the United States five times before Fridays quarterfinal meeting, which the team won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.The Swedes, who won bronze in 2004, face a considerable challenge in their next match against host Brazil and the countrys star player, Marta. The Brazilians defeated Australia on penalties. In the group stage, Brazil beat Sweden 5-1. Marta scored twice in that game, but more defensive tactics could be coming from Sweden.You always have to take into account the opponents, Sundhage said. We played against the world champions, so thats one reason we chose to play the way we did. ' ' '