India tour of Australia Nov'20-Jan'21

[asprin]

I would go with this

M. Agarwal
S. Gill
C. Pujara
V. Kohli
A. Rahane
H. Vihari (as it wouldn't make sense to have K. Rahul bat at this position)
R. Pant (he is struggling of late but you cannot take away what he brings to the table)
R. Ashwin (pips Jadeja for his bowling prowess)
M. Shami
J. Bumrah
M. Siraj (have a feeling pink ball would suit him more than Saini or Yadav)

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

When people talk about KL Rahul opening in Tests I don't really feel satisfied whether he would be able to perform considering his confidence issues in the past. He rather thinks too much and complicates his way of playing when things don't seem to be going right for him. And you go back to the last time when he was playing in Australia and now when you come to 2020 you don't see much of changes in his technical aspect of the game. You certainly wouldn't want to see him consistently get dismissed by one of the best bowling line-ups in the world and to see its impact on his performances in other formats. I don't remember him scoring bulk of runs in First Class either which he was known for early in his career in this time frame. So its highly risky both for the team and for him at an individual level to suddenly get thrown to Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins to be feasted. If he scores, well and good but what if he doesn't? Hence I would rather want to see Gill but I think India would go with Shaw since he batted at the top in both tour matches which makes it pretty evident. I don't think India would even be thinking about KL or else he would've been brought in as a substitute in the second innings of the second tour match.

 

[Ashutosh.]

Prithvi

 

[Neo 7]

We already one wicket down before the start of match ....

 

[LiveLoveABD]

4-0.

The intellect of this management is visible by announcing the XI this early.

Would dearly like to ask our bombastic coach the logic behind this and also why Ashwin is playing ahead of Kuldeep since he was supposed to be our lead spinner now?

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Well I could easily predict this was the team India would be playing. But Saha over Pant(that too when he is in a destructive form with a career best of 156 in this country) is simply unbelievable and hard to understand. Ashwin over Jadeja is plain stupid when you are playing a D/N Test in Australia!!! Well this management continues to show why they are a ridiculous bunch of jokers!!! Do you people actually think having Rahane for the last 3 matches will let us get rid of this stupidity? I would say better stop dreaming because he won't be allowed to have his say. The series is just doomed!!

Would dearly like to ask our bombastic coach the logic behind this and also why Ashwin is playing ahead of Kuldeep since he was supposed to be our lead spinner now?

Publicity stunt you would say. I think they said it just to brush Ashwin's poor handling of fitness under the carpet. Otherwise Kuldeep isn't even our first choice spinner in white-ball Cricket anymore. So to talk about Tests is far off!!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Well I could easily predict this was the team India would be playing. But Saha over Pant(that too when he is in a destructive form with a career best of 156 in this country) is simply unbelievable and hard to understand. Ashwin over Jadeja is plain stupid when you are playing a D/N Test in Australia!!! Well this management continues to show why they are a ridiculous bunch of jokers!!! Do you people actually think having Rahane for the last 3 matches will let us get rid of this stupidity? I would say better stop dreaming because he won't be allowed to have his say. The series is just doomed!!


Publicity stunt you would say. I think they said it just to brush Ashwin's poor handling of fitness under the carpet. Otherwise Kuldeep isn't even our first choice spinner in white-ball Cricket anymore. So to talk about Tests is far off!!

Jadeja is out with a concussion. Is the yo-yo test still needed to be passed because I really would like to see Ashwin pass one although he is the right choice if Jadeja is unfit.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Next MS Dhoni --> Wicketkeeper batsman in all formats --> Wicketkeeper batsman in limited overs --> Wicketkeeper batsman in tests --> Wicketkeeper batsman in overseas tests --> Nobody

There have been many a cricketer poorly handled under Kohli and Shastri but the terminal destruction of Pant, who could have been India's finest talent is a whole new dimension. And our cringeworthy media is equally responsible for this. I've not seen a cricketer so poorly handled by his board since Ganguly in 2005-06.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Jadeja is out with a concussion.

Oh yeah I forgot about it. I am sorry

Is the yo-yo test still needed to be passed because I really would like to see Ashwin pass one although he is the right choice if Jadeja is unfit.

Yes it is still there in place for the selection. I am not too sure how Ashwin did in that but I do agree that Ashwin should be our first choice if we don't have Jadeja.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

There have been many a cricketer poorly handled under Kohli and Shastri but the terminal destruction of Pant, who could have been India's finest talent is a whole new dimension. And our cringeworthy media is equally responsible for this. I've not seen a cricketer so poorly handled by his board since Ganguly in 2005-06.

If I was the Captain of India, Pant would've been the first man to nail his spot in my team because of the way he played in the warm-up. I know the bowling line-up wasn't good enough but those shots he played definitely had the old spark which was missing in him since the post 2019 World Cup. I think he was strong enough mentally to go through that and perform in the way he did. But if you still want to keep him out then I don't think this Indian side deserves him. He is far better player than the opportunities he has got.

 

[asprin]

Plot twist: Prithvi Shaw impresses in 1st Test

Nah, who am I kidding...


I'm slightly disappointed at Pant being left out, but Umesh is an okay for me. Would loved to have seen Siraj make his debut, but not a ridiculous selection I would say.

On an unrelated note, I've set sir S.Smith as my captain in FC. So expecting a string of failures from him...

 

[Ashutosh.]

If I was the Captain of India, Pant would've been the first man to nail his spot in my team because of the way he played in the warm-up. I know the bowling line-up wasn't good enough but those shots he played definitely had the old spark which was missing in him since the post 2019 World Cup. I think he was strong enough mentally to go through that and perform in the way he did. But if you still want to keep him out then I don't think this Indian side deserves him. He is far better player than the opportunities he has got.

I agree but Saha is not a bad option. He is better keeper than Pant.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I am surprised with Shaw, and would have definitely had Gill over him as the opener. I wonder if those 3-4 of overs by Shaw in the warm up, where he bowled a couple of big turning leg breaks under lights swung it in his favor - stupid reason, if so.

Ashwin being selected seems like an OK decision really - Jadeja is injured. Kuldeep has been in terrible form for almost an year, and was not even the first choice in IPL. Risking him with a chance in a day night match is not worth it.

I am quite happy with Saha over Pant. I know people have been going gaga over Pant's 100 in the warm up - but people are forgetting that Saha actually scored a critical 50 off 100 deliveries in the first warm up in tougher conditions and a more challenging situation with the tail, while Pant's knock came in friendlier conditions with a set batsman for company. Its the classical debate of whether to have a player who can push your 350 score to 450+ or can help you get to 250 when you are tottering at 100/5. And Pant's one dropped catch or missed stumping could probably cost us a lot more.

Mixed bag selection, but that was expected wasn't it

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

fearsome tweak Kohli and the management. I was a big fan of Prithvi Shaw, I still am but he does not deserve a place in the XI based on the form he is in. Not just in the warmups, even in IPL. Now onto Pant vs Saha. Both are good keepers and reliable but Pant just hit a century in the warm up game. He was one of the best players in the last tour and is dynamic and different. Now you have Rahane, Vihari, Saha all same kind of players playing in the XI plus no left handed players.

This is the kind of management that pisses me off and has kept me away from Indian cricket. I am so glad Kohli is leaving after the first test. I am hoping Rahane has the freedom of selecting his XI and not what Kohli would have told him to play with. I seriously hope we dont mismanage Gill, Saini, Natarajan and other upcoming players. I dont have an ounce of faith in this captain or management.

 

[SaiSrini]

Prithvi selected after that wonderful innings from Gill? Oh come on!! Gill was way better in the warm ups and he actually looked like he could stay out there and bat better.