Border Gavaskar Trophy 24/25 - India in Australia.

[ddrap14]

True! Jadeja originally got into the team, courtesy his 2/3 triple hundreds in Ranji. Post that, he failed to make any impact as a batsman and was favoured largely by MSD. I also feel the BGT will be the end of Ashwin's career as well. They might let him play in the next home series, as a farewell gesture, but the truth is, the selectors ought to now take a tough stance and blood in new guys.

319 Test wickets at 23 isn't a bad career at all, but it's clear his bowling has fallen off a bit too

 

[Fenil]

Okay the Indian batsmen are playing worse than we thought.

Let's have the predictions in.

By what margin do y'all think will India lose? I say an innings and 95 runs.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

You say that like there's non-average (Siraj is averaging 25 this series, let's say that's average rather than mediocre) options in the Ranji. Like, I mean...
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Also, shoutout Cricfan for finally being right about Gill - it took literal Superman to get rid of him

I'm not really sure who else India could've picked. Shami is missing due to fitness but his record is worse than "average" in Australia. Only two I could think of are Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep. The former was on the 'A' tour but I think all they'd have offered is a point of difference as left armers. That might not be such a bad thing as Siraj, Deep and Reddy all feel very similar.

There's Mukesh Kumar but I remember when England toured India being pleased when he came on to bowl. He's also very similar to Siraj and Deep.

Mayank Yadav could've been a wildcard, certaintly when he burst onto the scene, but it's exactly two years since his only first class match. So it'd be taking a big risk or, after his injury, he's not up to the workload of bowling as many overs as would be required.

Prasidh could do well on these pitches but he's got to get in the side.

I don't think Reddy quite seems up to the level to be a fourth seamer which would, to me, suggest you should pick your best spinner, which on recent evidence is probably Washington or on long term evidence is Ashwin. I'd probably go Washington because he's a better batter.

Hardik Pandya is the big missing puzzle piece. It's good that the likes of Reddy and a few other seam bowling all rounders are coming through but when Hardik was in the side (can't believe it's six years since his last test) India looked set to have everything they needed to dominate home and away.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Where is the Stupid Kohli post guy ?

 

[prasoonvidhu]

Captaincy is such an important aspect in cricket. Last time when Ajinkya Rahane was captaining India, even with a B team, were looking excellent away from home. Rohit in the last two tests has been very defensive, much like MS Dhoni. Looking to save runs rather than looking for wickets.

 

[icyman]

Captaincy is such an important aspect in cricket. Last time when Ajinkya Rahane was captaining India, even with a B team, were looking excellent away from home. Rohit in the last two tests has been very defensive, much like MS Dhoni. Looking to save runs rather than looking for wickets.

I have said this before. Rahane was the logical choice post Kohli. Lack of runs- tbh, it wasn't a hug concern. Ajinkya Rahane had the cricketing brain to tactically change a game.

I believe Matthew Hayden too, brought it up with Jatin Sapru during one of the post match shows.

 

[prasoonvidhu]

I have said this before. Rahane was the logical choice post Kohli. Lack of runs- tbh, it wasn't a hug concern. Ajinkya Rahane had the cricketing brain to tactically change a game.

I believe Matthew Hayden too, brought it up with Jatin Sapru during one of the post match shows.

Even if rain saves India the blushes here, we will end up in the same position in Melbourne as well.

 

[icyman]

Rohit needs to open in Melbourne. I dont think he is fit for the middle order. As for who goes down the order- I dont think they will drop Jaiswal, so it has to be KLR at 5.

If Agarkar has his way, I would want to see him pull Pujara from the commentary box and play him instead of Kohli (wont happen)

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Pant gone. I'd expect a Jadeja hang around act now where he will desperately try to justify his inclusion in the XI.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Okay the Indian batsmen are playing worse than we thought.

Let's have the predictions in.

By what margin do y'all think will India lose? I say an innings and 95 runs.

By innings and 200.

 

[asprin]

England will be licking their lips at the prospect of bowling to this lineup.

Seriously though has India made 50-5 the norm now?

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Rain saving and wiping India at the same time.

Its like slow death.

 

[Fenil]

I have said this before. Rahane was the logical choice post Kohli. Lack of runs- tbh, it wasn't a hug concern. Ajinkya Rahane had the cricketing brain to tactically change a game.

I believe Matthew Hayden too, brought it up with Jatin Sapru during one of the post match shows.

You are right and I agree that while one guy failing shouldn't be an issue, we need to realize that Rahane had a huge slump and the fact that he wasn't the only one off color didn't help. Pujara and Kohli were facing dearth or form/runs too and we were struggling to find a decent opener as well giving a chances to plenty. So when you have 4-5 slots of bother in top 7, you cannot expect to play someone soleley based on captainship for this is no longer a time of the legendary Mike Brearly.

For a fan who followed Rahane right from his domestic days when he averaged 67 in FC career and admiring his Dravidesque humble and likeable approach as a person, it was painful to see him being a pale shadow of himself as a batsman. His Test average by and large remain under 40 which reflected that he left a lot of runs out there but nothing worked for him.

It might also be a high time that a clear message be given to Kohli alongside Rohit that no player is bigger than the team and if they continue to underperform, they would shown the door. At the end of the day it's the runs that count. To be honest, Kohli's adamance to not curb his natural instinct to tickle the ball outside the off stump is almost alarming. This has been going on for years!! He needs to put his ego aside and give it to the bowlers/the game due respect and find a different way of scoring. As for replacement, Vihari is a solid pick for starters.

 

[Bevab]

It’s alarming that Kohli is still batting at four for India when we’re coming to the end of 2024 whilst one of the answers that was suggested to help this brittle lineup is Pujara… someone who was dropped because the lineup was becoming brittle.

 

[Aislabie]

It’s alarming that Kohli is still batting at four for India when we’re coming to the end of 2024 whilst one of the answers that was suggested to help this brittle lineup is Pujara… someone who was dropped because the lineup was becoming brittle.

Is there an Indian Jacob Bethell knocking about?

 

[asprin]

Have to applaud KLR here. He's the only one who seems to have put a price on his wicket as opposed to becoming a walking one. They are falling like a deck of cards at the moment.