India Team Discussion

[Bevab]

Anybody heard anything regarding Unmukt Chand? He was supposed to be the next big thing. @Bevab @SaiSrini @NilayShah60

As others have already said, he has drifted away ever since those highs of the U19 WC. Last I remembered he was playing for one of the newer teams in Ranji (Uttarakhand?) and might have played in the Dhaka Premier League too.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

He is only 27, he can still change his career around if he wants to stick. I learned he has started doing commentary and was a commentator for the U-19 WC.

 

[Ashutosh.]

He is only 27, he can still change his career around if he wants to stick. I learned he has started doing commentary and was a commentator for the U-19 WC.

 

[Bevab]

There are rumours that the fourth pacer for the test series down under will be Saini with the fifth bowling option being a toss up between Siraj and Thakur. I'm hoping to see the former get picked as a reward for his incredible consistency in first-class cricket and for the 'A' Team. Ishant will be a big loss for sure if he doesn't play. I wouldn't want Umesh in the first choice XI given how erratic his line can be and Australia have got three world class batsmen who can take advantage of that but he might play the first couple of games given the lack of other experienced alternatives.

 

[Aalay]

There are rumours that the fourth pacer for the test series down under will be Saini with the fifth bowling option being a toss up between Siraj and Thakur. I'm hoping to see the former get picked as a reward for his incredible consistency in first-class cricket and for the 'A' Team. Ishant will be a big loss for sure if he doesn't play. I wouldn't want Umesh in the first choice XI given how erratic his line can be and Australia have got three world class batsmen who can take advantage of that but he might play the first couple of games given the lack of other experienced alternatives.

Not having Ishant will be a huge blow but I guess it will give someone else a chance. I don't mind the inclusion of Saini and Siraj as they both have been labelled red-ball bowlers. I still remember how good Siraj was bowling for India A team in four-day matches and still wasn't given a chance back in 2017-18. Even though he doesn't do well in T20 format, his bowling was exciting to watch in today's game.

I also read somewhere that Hardik Pandya is unlikely to get picked for test matches since his body can't take it right now. Well then stop him from playing in the IPL and get him ready for test cricket. We will need a fifth bowling option on those flat Australian wickets where playing two spinners might be a risk.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Not having Ishant will be a huge blow but I guess it will give someone else a chance. I don't mind the inclusion of Saini and Siraj as they both have been labelled red-ball bowlers. I still remember how good Siraj was bowling for India A team in four-day matches and still wasn't given a chance back in 2017-18. Even though he doesn't do well in T20 format, his bowling was exciting to watch in today's game.

I also read somewhere that Hardik Pandya is unlikely to get picked for test matches since his body can't take it right now. Well then stop him from playing in the IPL and get him ready for test cricket. We will need a fifth bowling option on those flat Australian wickets where playing two spinners might be a risk.

We really need to invest in another medium paced all rounder. Hardik's body is too fragile. If I read correctly, he will be selected but as a batter and not all rounder which makes no sense. Since without his bowling he is of no use as a batter.

 

[Bevab]

Pandya will not bowl in the test series most likely until his new remodelled action is ready. I don't mind him playing in white ball cricket as I think once he comes back with the ball he could be a very useful sixth bowling option like Stokes. What he does need to do is get his batting up there and make that number five/six spot his own.

I don't want him in the whites even if he bowls though, feel like a combination of Jadeja and Ashwin at seven and eight would serve us better if we need that extra bowler. Two spinners is risky indeed but neither have been taken to the cleaners like other overseas spinners on Australian soil and I feel Ashwin works better whenever he has Jadeja supporting him from the other end.

Siraj's bowling today showed exactly why he is highly rated as a first-class bowler. When he is forced to deviate from his standard bowling he gets hit everywhere but that will not be an issue in test cricket. My first choice pace lineup would have a debut for Saini if his body can handle the rigours of test cricket, Shami and Bumrah. We need another pace all-rounder indeed but I don't really see any upcoming talents at the moment.

I don't see us winning the upcoming series though. Australia are heavily fired up for revenge and they have three batsmen now who can bat for days if needed. We might miss Kohli too in addition and I'm not sure if someone like Shreyas or Gill can come in and make an impact in his absence. A 2-1 in Aussie favour sounds like a half decent and realistic result for us, anything more and I would be surprised.

 

[Aalay]

Yes, I agree. I don't see us winning the series this time around. They have Warner who will always score runs in Australia. Marnus has improved rapidly since he last played against us in that series. Oh, and how can I forget? Steve Smith is back.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Coming to the Australia tour , any news where is Cheteshwar Pujara and what he is doing since COVID?

He was our best batsmen in the last tour , the Aussie bowlers really struggled to get through him.

Due to COVID his County stint was cancelled & the Indian domestic season had been delayed as well which would started by now.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Coming to the Australia tour , any news where is Cheteshwar Pujara and what he is doing since COVID?

He was our best batsmen in the last tour , the Aussie bowlers really struggled to get through him.

Due to COVID his County stint was cancelled & the Indian domestic season had been delayed as well which would started by now.

Puji and Vihari are supposed to fly to Dubai. They will be provided with practice matches and they will all fly together to Australia.

 

[Yash.]

Has Ishant been ruled out of the Australia tour due to the injury in the IPL?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Indian ODI and T20 probables

Openers

1. KL Rahul
2. Prithvi Shaw
3. Rohit Sharma
4. Shikhar Dhawan
5. Mayank Agarwal

Middle Order

1. Virat Kohli,
2. Shreyas Iyer
3. Rishabh Pant
4. Sanju Samson
5. Ishan

Lower Order

1. Hardik Pandya
2. Ravindra Jadeja
3. Washington Sundar
4. Axar Patel
5. Krunal Pandya (have doubts)

Bowlers

1. Jasprit Bumrah
2. Mohammad Shami
3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
4. Umesh Yadav
5. Khaleel Ahmed
6. Saini
7. Siraj
8. Yuzi Chahal
9. Varun Chakroberty?
10. Kuldeep
11. Rahul Chahar

Looking at the list, we definitely need more middle order batsman or should remove KL Rahul from opening and move him down. We need more of Kohli’s and Iyer’s!

This XI on form looks dangerous

1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul
6. Rishabh Pant
7. Hardik Pandya
8. Washington Sundar
9. Yuzi Chahal
10. Mohammad Shami
11. Jasprit Bumrah

 

[Ashutosh.]

This XI on form looks dangerous

1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul
6. Rishabh Pant
7. Hardik Pandya
8. Washington Sundar
9. Yuzi Chahal
10. Mohammad Shami
11. Jasprit Bumrah

6th bowling option?

 

[Neptune]

You have forgotten about Manish Pandey I think. He is definitely higher up the list than Ishan. I would like to see sky debut too but admittedly can't find a place for him. Also as Ashutosh mentioned a 6th bowler is needed. You could play jadeja or maybe someone like axar

 

[Yash.]

Se

• Jasprit Bumrah

• Mohammad Shami

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar

• Umesh Yadav

• Khaleel Ahmed

• Saini

• Siraj

• Yuzi Chahal

• Varun Chakroberty?

• Kuldeep

• Rahul Chahar

No Deepak Chahar? That guy has the best bowling figures in the T20I for a pacer FFS.

He has been consistent af, and should be preferred ahead of Bhuvi (in case a third seamer is needed.) I am a massive fan of Bhuvi but he hasn't looked the same ever since his back injuries.