Put simply...no. I am not sure why Karthik is in the team on the back of poor ODI performances, especially batting three. Robin Uthappa is a sure fire choice for the team, there should be no question of his place. Why are you dropping Ganguly who averaged 55 in the past year? Fielding is good, but dropping your most consistant batsman is crazy. Perhaps he should not open but dropping him all together is a bit strange.
As for the bowlers, the number 11 spot you chose worries me. You would pick Yo Mahesh who was unimpressive in the India A tri series considering he played Kenya in half the games. Ishant Sharma?!? Mr. No Ball problem? You have to be kidding me.
Now for my thoughts on the back of this article.
The article points to good moves by India. They dropped Sehwag in ODIs, this was the right move because it meant that he had to work on his game and even though the work may not have given any tangible differences, it meant that he now concentrates on his batting more on the crease. Due to his natural power, shots will still go for four, but he seems more alert at the crease. Sehwag should come back to the Indian team because big scores will be needed to beat Australia (especially with India's bowling attack) and so someone who will often fail but will also often score quick fifties is the right move.
It is good that Munaf Patel has been made to work on his game too and will likely not be selected. Again, the changes may not be as tangible (as someone like Pathan) but it may mean that he is more intense in future. He now has direction, clearly, management are upset with his fitness and pace and now he knows he must work on the two. I believe that going to the MRF Pace Foundation should be the second thing he does, the first he should do is maybe get a fitness coach and work on stamina of explosive strength.
I am slightly upset about Rohit Sharma potentially being dropped but he is only 20 years old and I have no doubt that consistant performances will earn him another selection.
I would pick Harbhajan Singh in the team because his fielding and batting are better than Ramesh Powar's (at least in one day games). However, I would go with the rather bold tactic of bowling him at the death or in powerplay overs because of his economical rather than wicket taking bowling which has been successful in keeping the runs down in twenty20s.
Now, onto my favourite performer, Irfan Pathan. I think that it is right that he plays against Australia since he seems to have done all the work he can (for now). However, I feel he should be eased into international cricket and not play all seven ODIs. He is on the road to recovery and I feel that simple match fitness is all he needs now, to get into the routine of bowling overs (rather than alternate balls or long periods of consecutive balls like in the nets) and I feel the pace will gradually return. I hope the swing returns too, he got a few to bounce and come back in in the last two twenty20s and I hope it can continue.
