India

[Aditya]

He is not in the team to bat after 40 overs. After 40 overs, any batsman can play big shots.

 

[AbhishekS]

He is not in the team to bat after 40 overs. After 40 overs, any batsman can play big shots.

You certainly are wrong at it. It's not easy to play the big shots during the final overs, the only guy who has the ability of doing that in this Indian squad is Yusuf Pathan, even Yuvraj to some extent.

Dhoni can do that too but he is struggling with his form. Agreed that he was brilliant in the warmup against New Zealand, but leave that match and I really cannot remember any big inning from him in the ODIs for the six or seven months.

Yusuf is the man who can turn the odds in India's favor in the final overs. Even if he he bats for the final 10-15 overs, India manages to get 100-150 runs in that period.

 

[Aditya]

My point is not who should bat after 40 overs. My point is, Yusuf is just a waste there at 7th down. I mean, you can't play a batsman to bat after 40 overs and then bowl 10 overs for you. He is also not a regular bowler so if he proves to be expensive in any match it's not his fault as he is not a regular bowler. So, basically my point is, Dhoni should drop Yusuf in the next match and play Ashwin.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Drop Yusuf get in Ashwin is also what I say

 

[AbhishekS]

My point is, Yusuf is just a waste there at 7th down.

Why would he ever come out to bat at that position!

 

[icyman]

Playing 7 batsmen against the minnows is a bad strategy. Instead try and devote that one extra space that you have to find out your bowling strength. 5 batsmen should be enough against Ireland and Holland.

 

[mohit_dude10]

Whats the point of playing 5 bowlers against Minnows? Its obvious they will do well and even 4 bowlers are enough to crush these minnows. It should be decided if the team is ready to field 5 bowlers against big teams, given that our top order is in good form and can bat most of the 50 overs.

 

[Aditya]

Why would he ever come out to bat at that position!

5th down or 6th down whatever, his positions are not really doing any justice to his talent. Dhoni should try the tactic of playing 5 bowlers in the next match just to see how this tactic works.

 

[icyman]

Whats the point of playing 5 bowlers against Minnows? Its obvious they will do well and even 4 bowlers are enough to crush these minnows.

Cause our batting is doing pretty well ATM. In such a case , the next match gives you an excellent opportunity to try out the various other combinations, which,you would otherwise not risk in a major match.

 

[Haarithan]

+1 to Sahil there . Indian top order order batsmen are just too good atm that one cannot see them making a total less than 300 in any of the cup games . So why not sacrifice one of your part time allrounders in place of a useful full time bowler (though no bowler strikes me atm) ??

 

[STLIndian]

+1 to Sahil there . Indian top order order batsmen are just too good atm that one cannot see them making a total less than 300 in any of the cup games . So why not sacrifice one of your part time allrounders in place of a useful full time bowler (though no bowler strikes me atm) ??

1. Yusuf Pathan can't really be dropped with the form he's in right now.

2. India's top order isn't gonna put up 300+ every match by themselves. Let's not overreact to 2 games. One of these matches, we'll fall to 100-4 or so and we'll need the batting depth.

3. India doesn't have any impact bowler to put in the side that would make a significant difference anyway. Who are we gonna bring in? Sreesanth?

 

[SaiSrini]

1. Yusuf Pathan can't really be dropped with the form he's in right now.

2. India's top order isn't gonna put up 300+ every match by themselves. Let's not overreact to 2 games. One of these matches, we'll fall to 100-4 or so and we'll need the batting depth.

3. India doesn't have any impact bowler to put in the side that would make a significant difference anyway. Who are we gonna bring in? Sreesanth?

The likelihood of India putting up 300+ totals on subcontinental tracks is far far higher than the likelihood of India's top order collapsing. But the likelihood of Indian bowlers getting spanked around in subcontinental tracks is also higher. So we have to shake up the balance of the side and see if 5 bowlers theory will work. We shouldnt try it against Netherlands or Ireland. We should try it against South Africa. Among the bowlers sitting in the bench right now (Ashwin, Nehra and Sreesanth), Ashwin is the better bat (he even scored a 25 against Australia in the warmup). He has to be picked. Drop Chawla and pick Nehra. Leave the rest as it is.

 

[AkshayS]

Dhoni can also use Pathan/Ashwin ( whoever plays in a particular game) to open the bowling. That could work also.
Well not too convinced with the 5 bowlers theory.

 

[SaiSrini]

Dhoni can also use Pathan/Ashwin ( whoever plays in a particular game) to open the bowling. That could work also.
Well not too convinced with the 5 bowlers theory.

Pathan to open bowling? What a wild idea? Just no.... I dont see the intelligence or spark in him that would make one to give him the opening bowling overs. Ashwin - YES! He has done it and done it very well too.

 

[AkshayS]

Pathan to open bowling? What a wild idea? Just no.... I dont see the intelligence or spark in him that would make one to give him the opening bowling overs. Ashwin - YES! He has done it and done it very well too.

You never know how things will go. Pathan would do better IMO. I think he'd do better than Munaf.