India Team Discussion

[NILAYSHAH60]

I remember these knocks made me a Kohli fan back in those days as a 12 year old kid.

 

[Bevab]

If the BCCI were a more competent and smart organisation, they would allow a few Indian players to participate in the BBL seeing that the World Cup next year will be held in Australia with it's own unique challenges of big boundaries and bouncy pitches. A small list of players that would surely benefit from the top of my head...

• Dhawan. An aggressive opener in ODIs, he has looked out of nick in recent T20Is and has in general been a more conservative player in T20s for some reason. A stint with one of the Melbourne clubs where he currently resides could help him rediscover his aggressive style. Overseas openers aren't usually in demand but having a world class batsman like Dhawan would surely tempt any franchise, even if he is only present for a short period.
  
• Pant. If he isn't going to take any break, he is on track to being dropped soon and left to languish in the domestic scene for a while. What better to rejuvenate than play in front of capacity crowds that took a huge liking to him last summer for his antics? Will surely be in demand given the lack of aggressive domestic batsmen proficient versus spin to bat in the middle overs for most teams.
  
• Sundar. Overseas spinners have always been a big success in the BBL due to the lack of domestic options and someone like Sundar who can bowl in the powerplay will be in high demand. Did I mention that he has the potential to be a pinch-hitter too?
• Krunal. Seems to have lost that extra gear of aggression that made people believe that he was a better batsman than his brother once upon a time. Can bowl four overs of accurate, handy spin and is a fine fielder too. What's not to like?
• Saini. A player that wouldn't really be in demand given that the Aussies aren't really bereft of domestic options, but Saini is a genuine quick who had a reasonable IPL and could be of use to a team that needs some serious pace.
  
• Deepak Chahar. Not as quick as his compatriot, but Chahar is a wily bowler who is quickly becoming a lot more versatile rather than be limited to an opening bowler who relies on swing. Has been extremely crucial to CSK over the last two years and that experience might tempt a side to nab him.

Now we have Uthappa and Raina publicly requesting the BCCI to allow at least former international cricketers to play overseas leagues. Despite being a neat compromise, I cannot see any possible positive gained by the BCCI in accepting this request apart from succumbing to the increasing pressure on this issue or an indirect effect of the experience rubbing off on other domestic players.

The BCCI could start by allowing players to participate in the CPL at the very least. It does not run at the same time as any other domestic tournament and has plenty of Indian influence already. The MSL would possibly run alongside India's own T20 tournament and could receive an exception too. In the long term though, loosening the restrictions could help massively seeing that every other country has a few T20 specialists to call up if required. The only Indian I can think of in such a role is Krunal Pandya and he has become a semi-regular in first-class cricket too.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I doubt whether Krunal Pandya has yet achieved what is required to be an International Cricketer. Definitely has the potential but he hasn't just done well. Even Hardik in his early days performed much better than Krunal. Having Krunal in a side could prove to be a huge bonus provided he performs as per his potential. I definitely think that some Overseas T20 leagues could help his case. Players like Finch and Maxwell gained prominence in their national sides because of IPL. So it could prove to be an asset I believe.

 

[Neptune]

He was the man of the series in the series against WI so he has shown some talent

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

He was the man of the series in the series against WI so he has shown some talent

I doubt whether they are as good a T20I team at present. Despite winning the WT20 twice I doubt their consistency. I believe Australia has the strongest side in T20Is right now. And anyways it is just one series he has done well that too when he had just joined the team so that is not a criteria to confirm his place in the side. Krunal for me has to improve his bowling atleast to be an International standard player.

 

[Neptune]

True. He has been very expensive at times. His bowling needs to be almost as good as a specialist bowler to be selected.

 

[Divyendu Shekhar]

I doubt whether Krunal Pandya has yet achieved what is required to be an International Cricketer. Definitely has the potential but he hasn't just done well. Even Hardik in his early days performed much better than Krunal. Having Krunal in a side could prove to be a huge bonus provided he performs as per his potential. I definitely think that some Overseas T20 leagues could help his case. Players like Finch and Maxwell gained prominence in their national sides because of IPL. So it could prove to be an asset I believe.

I think Krunal is, at best, a direct back-up to Jadeja. India have been trying a whole sea of players in the T20I format, and they've built a pool of almost 30 now. I don't see Krunal ever getting into any team ahead of Jadeja. Once Hardik returns, I would love to have Hardik and Jadeja both in the playing 11. That provides a lot of batting depth, and gives you bowling options. I'm still not certain if Pandya can be a 5th bowling option. He seems more like a 6th bowling option to me. I would be more confident pushing him up the order to number 6 with his hitting abilities. That way, we can play 6 bowlers, all the way from 6-11. Also gives you the option of playing 3 pacers and 3 spinners, if you're not sure of the pitch. Hard to look past Bhuvi and Bumrah in T20Is as frontline pacers, and I can also have my 2 wrist spinners. It does end up being a long tail, as no one can really tonk the ball after number 7. In that case, maybe a Chahar at 8, but do you leave Bhuvi out then?
If India play 5 bowlers, one of the wrist spinners will miss out and Pandya will move to 7, Jadeja to 8. You can then have an extra pure batsman at 6. It'll all be about the balance they want, and the amount of trust Kohli has in Pandya to deliver 5 whole overs each game.

 

[Neptune]

Bhuvi can bat so if he is injured then chahar/saini/shami can play in place of him as they throw their bat around and score. Chahal and Kuldeep both should not play as the WC is going to be in Australia so 3 spinners will not work as Jadeja/Krunal will also play. So 5 batsmen, Hardik , Jadeja/Krunal , 2 of Bhuvi / Shami / Chahar / Saini , Chahal / Kuldeep , Bumrah should play

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I am not too sure whether people believe the same but Bhuvi isn't doing that well in recent times probably due to some injury or confidence issue and it certainly have put his place in the side in danger. If Bhuvi needs to be in the side then he has to give out his best. I don't know whether Indian management is looking after his fitness. He doesn't look fit enough to play and seems to be struggling with something.

 

[Neptune]

True. I believe he needs to play International cricket and prove his fitness before the WC if he has to play. Also in Australian conditions, a bowler like Saini will be great to have. He bowls fast and relies on bounce which Australian conditions provide.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

True. I believe he needs to play International cricket and prove his fitness before the WC if he has to play. Also in Australian conditions, a bowler like Saini will be great to have. He bowls fast and relies on bounce which Australian conditions provide.

The WT20 in Australia is postponed to 2022. The next edition is in 2021 in India itself.

 

[Divyendu Shekhar]

Bhuvi does have injury concerns and it's tough to comment on that, with no knowledge of it. However, if he is fit and close to his best, he is in my 11 everyday ahead of Shami in T20s. However, I don't see Bhuvi as a batsman in T20Is. He can't slog. He is a decent Test batsman, and can stick around in an ODI, but that's about it.

 

[Divyendu Shekhar]

1. Rohit Sharma
2. KL Rahul
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. Manish Pandey
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Deepak Chahar
9. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
10. Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav
11. Jasprit Bumrah

Could play both wrist spinners and shorten the batting a bit by removing Jadeja. On a rank turner, I would play both wrist spinners instead of Deepak Chahar. I could even consider a Krunal Pandya in that scenario.

Also, what is everyone's view on MS Dhoni? That is a whole different angle.

 

[Neptune]

If the IPL does happen and he plays and does well enough, he should be considered. If he does not play any significant match before the WC, it will be hard to pick him

 

[Yash.]

Bhuvi has been marred by injuries a lot in the recent times, along with some loss of form. I still believe that the management should back him, because his partnership with Bumrah, both at the start and at the death was lethal during the 2017-18 phase. They both together are two of the smartest operators, both having different styles of bowling.

Also, whenever India play Australia, you need Bhuvi to take the wicket of Finch. It's necessary.