Well played SA. I think it is likely they would've won if there was no rain. Bowled superbly to keep India to only 289 when 340-350 was probable if things went bad for SA. If at least 35-40 runs more were added to India's total, likely SA would've gone down. That 72 run stand between Klassen and Miller in about 6-7 overs just robbed India's momentum after getting AB out. Hopefully, the Indians can bounce back from this and take the series.
Once Kohli goes it's all south. I have been hammering about this ever since Dhoni relinquished the captaincy and every time I watch India play I can't help but feel like ramming my head against the wall.
Let's first talk about what's right-
1) We have two good fast bowlers who can bowl at the top and at the death. Now with Bhuvi evolving, even a spell in the middle overs.
2) Our middle overs bowling is sorted with the two wristies. They'll pick W and generally in the process save runs.
3) Our fielding is strong and one of the best in the world.
4) Our openers are solid and the thought of pushing Sharma to 4 has now sailed with the world cup looming. I think we have too few games to see if he can bat at 4 and have Rahane open with Dhawan. So, openers are sorted.
5) We have the best batsman in the world for the format.
6) We're as good as it gets behind the stumps. Dhoni's experience helps the two young spinners in catch 22 situations although Chahal was spooked beyond recovery after AB took it to him.
Now, from what I've mentioned, we have 3 batters, a keeper and 4 bowlers who should be in the starting XI of any logical cricket watcher. Let's now talk about the options for the remaining 3 spots.
1) I think Hardik Pandya walks in for me at 7. I think his bowling is improving and he should just be told that he's our man at the slog. He has some ODI's and T20's to put his role to the test but at this point I don't really think we have very many options. I personally feel he's a cricketer for the big occasion and if the management had used him well, by now he would be settled at 7. If I were Shastri and I sincerely thank god I am not, I would have Pandya pick Dhoni's brain 365, 24*7. By now, he should have already become "the" finisher of world cricket. What's frustrating is that the management sees him in roles some older legs can fulfil with more consistency. Make no mistake, Pandya also has the temperament to finish games and I honestly don't think he's any less a cricketer than a young MSD. It's all about how much he can learn from the great man and apply it in his game.
2) Now, in the last two to three years, every time India has found itself in a pickle after Kohli's dismissal or a collapse one man has made a mini rescue, added some respectability or even won games from unusual situations. Who's that bloke? More than 300 games, an excellent cricket brain and a man as fit as any. If MS Dhoni has to flourish as a keeper
batsman then he has to bat at 4. He will not only quench Kohli's thirst to run hard in the middle overs but also act as an insurance policy for the hitters to come. MS Dhoni is an absolute no brainer at 4 and if he can suss out and stay till the end, he's not too shy of hammering a few himself. India
must stop expecting him to finish games because while he has the mind for the job, his body has simply past that high octane patch. We've had this manhunt for 3 years with a poster in bold with the caption 'no.4 needed' but we've missed the best option in the country right in front of our eyes.
3) So, (Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli and Dhoni) make 1-4. My all rounder and finisher at 7 and my four W taking bowlers from (8-11). What would India have given to say have a bowling all rounder in form like Irfan Pathan? That would enable Pandya to bat 6 and him to bat at 7. But, we don't have that luxury. We need to figure who can bat at 5 and 6? I think most people would say Pandya 10 overs? That's a big ask. In India, we always manufacture batters who can bowl off spin. You could pick one out from every cricketing house. I think it's important though that we don't select someone that bowls 4-5 overs but isn't my best batting option. I think Kedar Jadhav fits that bill. He seems to be more in the side for his bowling and I think that's absolutely manic. In a normal scenario, it would be good to look at someone young (20-25) who can hit a long ball and give me some overs but with the ICC event so close I think it's just too risky. I think time has well and truly come to go back to Suresh Raina. He's just smacked 4 centuries, he's still only 30 (younger than Jadhav), an outstanding fielder and a very very handy off spinner. Even if and I don't believe there's any case for Jadhav playing ahead of Raina, but even if there is a case for that, Raina has the experience of playing in big moment ICC tournaments. His innings in the QF and SF of the WC of 2011 went under the radar but they were absolute gold in the context. In my mind, he is the only short term fix. It also means that we're not solely dependent on Pandya to provide the lusty blows. This will give him some relief as well on days when he can't cash in.
4) That leaves us with the one spot remaining for the last batsman. Whether it's at 5 or at 6, I think Manish Pandey has been really hardly dealt with. He made a cracking hundred in Sydney against AUS in a pressure situation and just hasn't been given a consistent enough run. He is also a fielder as good as any. I think unlike Iyer and Jadhav, he can practically bat anywhere. Personally, he's a no brainer for me.
So, my XI would look like this-
R Sharma
Dhawan
Kohli
Dhoni
Pandey
Raina
Pandya
B Kumar
K Yadav
Chahal
Bumrah
Reserves
D Karthik
Shami
U Yadav
Jadeja
Rahane
