India tour of Australia - 2018/19

[Till Valhalla]

If Pant and Vihari win this match their careers are made.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Frankly speaking I was always a fan of Kohl's Captaincy in the past. He always did well as a Captain for India at the start of his Captaincy career (infact better than Dhoni in Tests specially). But don't know somewhere he lost his charm and suddenly his strategies became mediocre at times. He started committing blunders. Coming to the Test Series in South Africa, his Captaincy and bowling changes in Cape Town
were absolutely spot on (until Keshav Maharaj hit a 50 in the first innings) and the batting started poorly for India (including Kohli) but thanks to Pandya we were still in the game and once again Kohli as Captain was on the charge. We were all over South Africa bowling them out on 127. The only thing that went wrong was team selection (Kohli alone isn't responsible for that for sure). In Centurion we were outplayed by a not-so in-form AB de Villiers (who was allowed to get settle) or else the Proteas didn't came close to us. Kohli as Captain is at times one of the best in the world but the blunders he commit are the worst. His Captaincy is spot on in bits and parts. And his blunders if corrected on time can make India world beaters. If Kohli becomes a bit calmer and takes responsibility for the blunders he commit he would become a very good Captain. He definitely needs someone to step-in and handle his blunders (the team management can do that but they never did). I see a problem in the management and not in Kohli's Captaincy skills

 

[SaiSrini]

Frankly speaking I was always a fan of Kohl's Captaincy in the past. He always did well as a Captain for India at the start of his Captaincy career (infact better than Dhoni in Tests specially). But don't know somewhere he lost his charm and suddenly his strategies became mediocre at times. He started committing blunders. Coming to the Test Series in South Africa, his Captaincy and bowling changes in Cape Town
were absolutely spot on (until Keshav Maharaj hit a 50 in the first innings) and the batting started poorly for India (including Kohli) but thanks to Pandya we were still in the game and once again Kohli as Captain was on the charge. We were all over South Africa bowling them out on 127. The only thing that went wrong was team selection (Kohli alone isn't responsible for that for sure). In Centurion we were outplayed by a not-so in-form AB de Villiers (who was allowed to get settle) or else the Proteas didn't came close to us. Kohli as Captain is at times one of the best in the world but the blunders he commit are the worst. His Captaincy is spot on in bits and parts. And his blunders if corrected on time can make India world beaters. If Kohli becomes a bit calmer and takes responsibility for the blunders he commit he would become a very good Captain. He definitely needs someone to step-in and handle his blunders (the team management can do that but they never did). I see a problem in the management and not in Kohli's Captaincy skills

Well... he was the one who orchestrated the throw out of the guy who could've stepped in to handle his blunders (Anil Kumble). When Kohli brings in his troop of people (starting with Ravi Shastri), you can't make him look like "he is not the only responsible" etc etc etc. Kohli has made all the moves and so if things are going horribly wrong, he is to blame. You live by the sword, you die by it too.

 

[abhi_jacko]

So, everyone ... Pandya to come in for the Thrid Test?

I read he is fit and took a fifer and scored 73 off 137 in the Ranji game (plus 2 wickets in the ongoing second innings) that he played to prove fitness and form

 

[abhi_jacko]

So official news

Prithvi Shaw is ruled out of the series and replaced by Mayank Agarwal (niceeee)
And Hardik Pandya is back in the squad for 3rd and 4th tests

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...-for-3rd-4th-test-against-tim-paine-co/332507

India’s squad for the 3rd and 4th Test against Australia:

Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal

 

[asprin]

To be honest we didn't bowl well in this Test either.

Don't entirely agree with it. I read a lot of "near misses" and "beats the bat" in the commentary (espncricinfo), so I guess luck favored Australia more.

The main issue is choosing a team to take the field

Can't disagree on that.

It's not all down to the batsmen

But it definitely has been the case on the last 3 away tours. It's the batsmen who have been letting us down. Yes, the tail has been a problem but it's wonderful to see we have been able to get the top-middle order for not much on the board.

 

[Aalay]

So official news

Prithvi Shaw is ruled out of the series and replaced by Mayank Agarwal (niceeee)
And Hardik Pandya is back in the squad for 3rd and 4th tests

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...-for-3rd-4th-test-against-tim-paine-co/332507

India’s squad for the 3rd and 4th Test against Australia:

Virat Kohli (captain), M Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal

It's difficult for India because both of the openers can't buy a run right now. I don't see any of Rahul or Vijay playing the boxing day test match. I have said this before as well, Rahul just doesn't look the same player that he was once he got exposed to those incoming deliveries. I know it's not ideal for him but he definitely needs a break. In my opinion, I think Murli Vijay has played his last test for India. Again, that is just my opinion because you never know what this management is going to do.

I know this will sound ridiculous but Pujara and Parthiv should open in the boxing day test match. Parthiv has played as an opener before and Pujara technically is playing as an opener currently anyway. Kohli at 3, Rahane at 4, Vihari at 5. Now I am not sure who they will pick between Rohit and Pandya but I think Pandya will walk back into the 11.

I am also hoping Ashwin is back and bowls well. Pujara was the difference between the two teams in the first game but Lyon was the difference in this game. Not picking a specialist spinner really hurt India. Ashwin bowled well in the first test in England but then got injured and didn't bowl as well for rest of the series. I really hope that doesn't happen in this series. India needs Ashwin to bowl well.

Lastly, I know none of our bowlers are renowned for their batting but they must learn to put a prize on their wicket. They have to make bowlers earn their wicket rather then gifting their wickets to the bowlers.

 

[zwarrior]

Between Vijay and Rahul, right now I would play Vijay. Rahul is really down in confidence. Mayank Agarwal should play. He can't do worse than the current openers. And where does Pandya fit ? Assuming Ashwin comes in for Umesh Yadav in next match, Pandya will surely come in for Vihari. Batting will be more fragile !

I will go with this team for next match. I don't want to include Pandya but pretty sure he will come in.

Parthiv
Agarwal
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Vihari
Pandya
Ashwin
Ishant
Shami
Bumrah

 

[Rehan_24]

Told ya guys that anything 250 plus would be the game win for Australia. This has been the most poor batting lineup of Australia ever hosting a series in my opinion.

As for Indian batting collapse, The problem is not much with batting skill rather than pitches. This track was favoring Australia since start though I feel their batting didnt capitalize much what they could achieve.

India is fighting hard and we will see how close they can go tomorrow. Anything can happen, However Australia chances are more than 80 percent.

The most damaging thing towards Indian batting are the openers vulnerability towards fast bowling on these tracks imo

 

[aditya123]

So, everyone ... Pandya to come in for the Thrid Test?

I read he is fit and took a fifer and scored 73 off 137 in the Ranji game (plus 2 wickets in the ongoing second innings) that he played to prove fitness and form

A big NO. Vihari is doing alright and Rahane/Pujara have looked good as well. The only change will be a spinner back in and a change in one/both the openers.

 

[SaiSrini]

A big NO. Vihari is doing alright and Rahane/Pujara have looked good as well. The only change will be a spinner back in and a change in one/both the openers.

Take my word - Hardik Pandya will WALK into the XI. Fortunately for him, the pre-series talk centered around how India will miss an allrounder like him in the side as it puts the balance off (e.g. people like Ian Chappell said India will miss Hardik Pandya for this series). And now with him proving his fitness back home and also with a 5-fer and a 70 odd score, I expect him to be the first name on that team XI sheet for the Boxing Day test.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I would want to go with this squad

Vijay
Mayank
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Vihari/Hardik(depends on conditions of the pitch)
Pant
Jadeja
Ishant
Shami
Bumrah

 

[asprin]

I concur. Hardik will walk into the team. Who gets shown the door, I'm not sure.

One of Vijay or Rahul will need to make way for Agarwal. I don't know much about him, but he seems to be held in very high regard by the others here. So I wouldn't mind seeing him replace either of the aforementioned.

If Ashwin is declared fit, he will make a comeback too. Again, who gets benched would be interesting to see if that happens. Most likely it would be Vihari I guess.

If Pant doesn't score a decent one (doesn't mind even if India end up losing - because it's too much of an ask really to expect our lower order/tail to contribute 175 runs from this point), get Parthiv in. He is a better keeper than him and perhaps even a more stable option batting wise - not flashy but can be expected to put a price on his wicket.

And for god's sake, someone talk some sense into Shami while batting. It appears as if he just doesn't care and is a walking wicket. Ishant and Umesh at least try to stay at the wicket but I don't get that feeling from Shami.

Given the Shastri/Kohli combo, I think this would be the playing XI for the boxing day Test.

1. K. Rahul
2. M. Agarwal (because Kohli appears to favor Raul over Vijay)
3. C. Pujara
4. V. Kohli
5. A. Rahane
6. H. Pandya
7. H. Vihari (to be replaced by R.Ashwin, if he is fit)
8. R. Jadeja (I don't think we will see K. Yadav because of the fear of the Lords debacle)
8. M. Shami
9. I. Sharma
10. J. Bumrah

Ideally, I would like it to be
1. M. Vijay
2. M. Agarwal
3. C. Pujara
4. V. Kohli
5. A. Rahane
6. H. Pandya (to be replaced by R.Ashwin, if he is fit)
7. H. Vihari
8. P. Patel (barring a meaningful contribution from R. Pant)
9. I. Sharma
10. J. Bumrah
11. M. Shami (I would keep this batting order, M. Shami doesn't deserve to be above this spot honestly)

If Ashwin is fit:
We will have 3 seam options, 1 spinner, 1 part timer

If Ashwin is not fit:
We will have 4 seam options, 1 part timer

 

[Ashutosh.]

Vijay and Rahul should be dropped from the test team.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

It's the batsmen who have been letting us down.

I recollected few things just few days ago, in 2014 England tour we failed miserably with both bat and ball and our batting was still pathetic back then (we were dismissed for less than 100 twice on that tour and less than 200 being 4 times). The reason we did well with the bat in Australia in 2014-15 was solely the pitches were flat with no help for the bowlers at all (the worst according to the Aussie players during that series). The bowling has started stepping up now due to which we tend to forget we didn't do well with the bat previously either. And also the sporty wickets have started to make their way back into Test Cricket since last 2 yrs. Bowlers definitely bowled better but they got help from the pitches as well !!!!!