India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[SaiSrini]

Yes we will see a similar line-up in the test as the one that played in South Africa. The only change I would make is bring in Umesh Yadav in place of Ishant Sharma.

I have a feeling Ashwin will play, after his performance in the warmup match yesterday. He got 2 wkts and got 46 runs. Ashwin didn't play the 2nd test vs SA where Jadeja played. Yadav for Ishant is a straightforward swap (unless Dhoni has his head unscrewed). Ishwar Pandey also wont be a bad option considering his performance in the warmup.

 

[asprin]

Something tells me we won't see Ishant making it to the eleven especially after having Yadav, Zaheer, Ishwar, and Shami in the same department as Ishant. And if it does play, then Dhoni surely has lost his senses.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I seriously think Dhoni should step down as the Test captain. He has been really disappointing over the last few years - both tactically and result wise. He is very bland and defensive as a test captain, especially overseas where his spinners are ineffective.

2 wins in his last 16 overseas games - that is a terrible record. Add to that, we lost to England at home ! I always want India to win every game they play, but I wouldn't be too disappointed if losing to the Kiwis (looks very probable) results in MSD stepping down from Tests. OR even better (but unlikely), we will see a completely revamped, attacking Dhoni in the tests against NZ

 

[Aalay]

I have a feeling Ashwin will play, after his performance in the warmup match yesterday. He got 2 wkts and got 46 runs. Ashwin didn't play the 2nd test vs SA where Jadeja played. Yadav for Ishant is a straightforward swap (unless Dhoni has his head unscrewed). Ishwar Pandey also wont be a bad option considering his performance in the warmup.

I am not too sure about Ashwin. Yes, he did well in the warm-up game but you also have to look at the players we were playing against. There was only 1 international player in that NZ 11. When he plays test, he will be against Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor again who are very good players of spin bowling. But than again, Ashwin is much better in test than ODI. It just depends on Dhoni that he wants to go with 5 bowlers or just 4. I just hope we don't see Ishant Sharma in the final 11 because I feel we have invested a lot in him and have not got anything back.

 

[surendar]

I would believe that Jadeja will be still preferred like how he has been preferred in SA tour. With he gaining some form in ODIs - logically, he will be preferred is what my guess is. Let us see.

then Dhoni surely has lost his senses.

That is missing for quite a long time now.

 

[used2bcool]

I would always contend that Jadeja is probably a better bet on non-turning tracks. If we're picking three seamers and a spinner then I would choose Jadeja in that spot.

 

[SaiSrini]

Considering how Rohit played in the SA tests and also considering Ashwin's batting capabilities, this wouldn't be a bad batting lineup

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Jadeja

Rohit wont be used at all for spin duties, and Ashwin can be used enough for spin duties. And to me, Ashwin is a more reliable batsmen than Rohit when it comes to overseas conditions. And it will let us play 5 bowlers.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Considering how Rohit played in the SA tests and also considering Ashwin's batting capabilities, this wouldn't be a bad batting lineup

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Jadeja

Rohit wont be used at all for spin duties, and Ashwin can be used enough for spin duties. And to me, Ashwin is a more reliable batsmen than Rohit when it comes to overseas conditions. And it will let us play 5 bowlers.

I would love it if this were to happen for real - I wish MSD would show the guts to go with 6 specialist batsmen + Ashwin + Jadeja.

 

[playkid12]

India is going to get wrecked next year at the World Cup.

Relax, Colonel Conclusion Jumper. There is still quite a bit of time left.

----------

I would love it if this were to happen for real - I wish MSD would show the guts to go with 6 specialist batsmen + Ashwin + Jadeja.

Or you know, 7 specialist batsmen + Jadeja + 3 seamers since Ashwin is utterly useless as a bowler. Or 6 specialist batsmen + 4 seamers and Jadeja to try to give more seamers a try to find one that fires.

 

[greymatter776]

There is no way India can include just 6 specialist batsman.Vijay and Dhawan to open,Pujara and Kohli at no 3 and 4,Rohit and Rahane at 5 and 6 and finally Dhoni at 7.I dont find a way to reduce other than to allow Pujara open with Vijay/Dhawan but that would make changes all throughout the lineup.

 

[abhi_jacko]

New Zealand v India, 1st Test, Auckland : Dhoni asks for endurance and intensity from bowlers | Cricket News | New Zealand v India | ESPN Cricinfo

This just proves how defensive Dhoni is. Before the series begins, his fourth bowler Jadeja, has a pre-defined role of 'containing' in a TEST Match. IF the mindset is negative, how can the result be positive. And we see Ishant's name cropping up again. God help us

 

[grkrama]

if he gets ishant in tomorrow he will set knew record for absurd stuborness

 

[Lebanna]

Something I've been wondering about: is Dhoni a selector for India? Not all captains are (eg. Clarke) but even if he is, surely he's not the only selector.

It just seems to me that everyone blames Dhoni for poor selection choices, but is it 100% his fault?

 

[abhi_jacko]

Picking the squad may be the selectors job, but captains have a major say in the XI players that are fielded in a game - picking Ishant over Ishwar, Varun, Umesh is most certainly MSD's fault

 

[surendar]

if he gets ishant in tomorrow he will set knew record for absurd stuborness

Let him. His probability of getting sacked from test also increases along with those lines.