India tour of Australia - 2018/19

[SaiSrini]

Looks like for those who did not see the game, it might seem like Dhoni returned back, but after reading comments here from folks who watched it live, it seems like not much has changed.

I actually am very circumspect now. If Dhoni is pushed to No. 4 and he comes out with 10-15 overs still to go, he will waste so many balls that India are either too late at pressing the accelerator or the required run rate balloons up so much that DK/Jadhav/Pandya/Jadeja are under so much pressure to finish it off. It kinda seems ideal to me that Dhoni is kept late enough that he comes out at the 45th or 46th over and he is forced to go slam bang. If he does not, then keep a finisher or two behind him as 'cushion'. I would actually play Dhoni at No.6 with Hardik at 7 and Jadeja at 8. This way, Hardik-Jadeja are the cushions. But that means, DK is pushed up to No.5 and has to play anchor and also take it close to finishing point. I feel that with Dhoni in the side, Rayudu seems a misfit.

Our middle order is still in a complex tangled mess that I am really perplexed to hear the optimism around our WC chances. We have a chance at the WC if our top order carries us all the way through to the title. We are grappling with the slots from No. 4 to 6, where a slow Dhoni is causing lot of headaches. I thought post captaincy, he would play with a lot of the pressure off his shoulders. But he still seems to be batting as if he is the de facto captain of the side, taking all the pressure on himself and especially when his body is resisting it. I feel bad for him, obviously.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I would still fancy our chances at the 2019 World Cup just like I did it before the recent Test series. As far as I remember I was the lone person on this thread fancying with India's chances at the series. Let's see what happens !!!!

 

[Bigby Wolf]

That was a crucial innings from DK.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Coming to the bowlers Bhuvi wad outstanding barring the last couple of balls,Shami was good too while Siraj had a terrible debut would like to see Chahal instead of him in the squad for the MCG as two wrist spinners with bigger boundaries can create a bit pressure in the middls overs.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Bhuvi's first spell was on the money. Not happy with the death bowling and overuse of the knuckle ball. No yorkers from BK. I think we are at 50% optimum compared to our potential.

I will again say-

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Dhoni (If wicket falls before over no 35)
Karthik (Overs 35-50)
Pandya (Overs 40-50)
Jadeja (Overs 45-50)
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Jassi
Shami

Rahul, Umesh, Chahal and Manish Pandey on the bench.

 

[zimrahil]

Keep Dhoni on strike and oppositions can easily win the game.

 

[SaiSrini]

Karthik with that innings just about keeps everyone interested. Hope he gets more opportunities like that. Shows how valuable a T20 player he is, but it is very crucial that the team management times his arrival at the crease when it comes to ODI's. I think he needs to enter in that phase where its extremely important to press the accelerator hard. That's when he frees himself up and becomes of real good value.

Still believe Jadhav could be equally good (or maybe even better) as Jadhav can bat in the earlier overs too and can rotate strike while setting up for the big push. I see less value of Rayudu when Dhoni is there to take time to get going with his innings. Play Dhoni at 4 and pack the finishers behind him (Karthik, Jadhav, Pandya, Jadeja)

 

[Targaryen]

That is what I heard from commentators during the match when Dhoni came in to bat.

BTW fans are putting allegations (I mean, fun allegation) on Dhoni that he called Khaleel Ahmed 'Chu**ya' when he was carrying water to Dhoni.

 

[GOKUL RAJ K]

Bhuvi's first spell was on the money. Not happy with the death bowling and overuse of the knuckle ball. No yorkers from BK. I think we are at 50% optimum compared to our potential.

I will again say-

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Dhoni (If wicket falls before over no 35)
Karthik (Overs 35-50)
Pandya (Overs 40-50)
Jadeja (Overs 45-50)
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Jassi
Shami

Rahul, Umesh, Chahal and Manish Pandey on the bench.

Where's Rayudu On The List

 

[Velocity]

Packing finishers if Dhoni is brought at 4, doesn't seem like a good idea. If one day in the WC if the top three collapse, I can't expect Karthik and Pandya to carry us through to a decent total. Pandya is a six or bust player. Karthik is often inconsistent IMO, but he seems capable of finishing the innings (though prefer Jadhav at 6). It seems like through packing finishers we are expecting the top three to pull India through the WC, which is not a guarantee.

It's odd people are calling for Rayudu to be dropped. If Dhoni bats 4, I think Rayudu will be very useful at 5. He can anchor the innings in case of the collapse, and tee off if needed. Keeping Pandya and Karthik/Jadhav down the order with Jaddu at 8 should strengthen the batting all round, which usually gets vulnerable after 6 wickets are gone which is frustrating when so many other teams can easily bat up to 10.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

If you play Jadeja at 8 and Pandya at 7 then you're basically saying Bumrah, Bhuvi and Kuldeep have to bowl 30 plus these two will have to bowl 20. It would mean that our bowling is absolutely wafer thin and forget about the specialists having a bad day, even Pandya and Jadeja cannot have a bad one. Pandya 6, Jadeja 7 and 4 proper bowlers is my call i.e 3 seamers and Kuldeep. Dhoni at 4, DK at 5. Bhuvi batting 8 is perfect.

 

[SaiSrini]

If you play Jadeja at 8 and Pandya at 7 then you're basically saying Bumrah, Bhuvi and Kuldeep have to bowl 30 plus these two will have to bowl 20. It would mean that our bowling is absolutely wafer thin and forget about the specialists having a bad day, even Pandya and Jadeja cannot have a bad one. Pandya 6, Jadeja 7 and 4 proper bowlers is my call i.e 3 seamers and Kuldeep. Dhoni at 4, DK at 5. Bhuvi batting 8 is perfect.

This being international cricket and playing a WC, we have to ask Pandya and Jadeja to NOT have a bad day. An allrounder adds balance only when he is the 5th bowler, not when he is the 6th bowler. Jadeja is a specialist bowler and should be considered as one. Jadeja, Kuldeep, Bhuvi and Bumrah will be the 4 specialist bowlers. Hardik Pandya should be the 5th bowler and as an insurance, India can have Jadhav in the XI so that if someone has a bad day, Jadhav turns his arm over. A XI like this looks ideal

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Dhoni
Karthik/Rayudu
Jadhav
Pandya
Jadeja
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah

Rayudu and Karthik play musical chairs between them as to who gets to play in the XI. Dhoni at 4 is the best option. If India is in deep trouble (like at SCG), he comes out at 4 and resurrects it. If India are in a good position and are at the 35th over or so and poised for a flourish, he stays back while Karthik/Rayudu, Jadhav, Pandya and the likes take on the charge. Basically Dhoni should be a floater in the middle.

 

[Master Bates]

I would like Vijay Shankar to get a chance. Who knows if he can replace Pandya for world cup?

 

[LiveLoveABD]

This being international cricket and playing a WC, we have to ask Pandya and Jadeja to NOT have a bad day. An allrounder adds balance only when he is the 5th bowler, not when he is the 6th bowler. Jadeja is a specialist bowler and should be considered as one. Jadeja, Kuldeep, Bhuvi and Bumrah will be the 4 specialist bowlers. Hardik Pandya should be the 5th bowler and as an insurance, India can have Jadhav in the XI so that if someone has a bad day, Jadhav turns his arm over. A XI like this looks ideal

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Dhoni
Karthik/Rayudu
Jadhav
Pandya
Jadeja
Bhuvi
Kuldeep
Bumrah

Rayudu and Karthik play musical chairs between them as to who gets to play in the XI. Dhoni at 4 is the best option. If India is in deep trouble (like at SCG), he comes out at 4 and resurrects it. If India are in a good position and are at the 35th over or so and poised for a flourish, he stays back while Karthik/Rayudu, Jadhav, Pandya and the likes take on the charge. Basically Dhoni should be a floater in the middle.

I can similarly say that this is international cricket and 5 batters should do the job and we shouldn't need more. It doesn't work like that mate. I just feel that the limited overs game is heavily tilted in favour of batters and more bowling options, the better. I consider Pandya a 6th bowler and not a 5th. That's it.

 

[SaiSrini]

I can similarly say that this is international cricket and 5 batters should do the job and we shouldn't need more. It doesn't work like that mate. I just feel that the limited overs game is heavily tilted in favour of batters and more bowling options, the better. I consider Pandya a 6th bowler and not a 5th. That's it.

In cricket, a bowler gets 300 balls to take 10 wickets. But a batsman does not know which of those 300 balls is going to claim his wicket. Therefore there needs to be a higher insurance on the batting side than on the bowling side. Again, my few cents.

I wish we could find a better bowler than Pandya who can bat as well, but its not possible to find out in time before the WC.