You're right. Raina should replace Sachin, and Ashwin should replace Harbhajan. Also I would rest Zaheer and play Nehra in place of him. It might sound like putting Netherlands in bad light, but we have two big ticket games against SA and WI coming up, and right now we are almost secure of a quarterfinal spot (99%). We should rest these big players and keep them fresh for the big games. Harbhajan aint needs rest, but Chawla can be given one more chance against a smaller team and also Ashwin needs a go before the big games. I see Ashwin playing a big part for us against the big teams and in the latter stages of the tournament. Let me see how long can Dhoni keep him out.
India
- Thread starter Pranav
- Start date
You're right. Raina should replace Sachin, and Ashwin should replace Harbhajan. Also I would rest Zaheer and play Nehra in place of him. It might sound like putting Netherlands in bad light, but we have two big ticket games against SA and WI coming up, and right now we are almost secure of a quarterfinal spot (99%). We should rest these big players and keep them fresh for the big games. Harbhajan aint needs rest, but Chawla can be given one more chance against a smaller team and also Ashwin needs a go before the big games. I see Ashwin playing a big part for us against the big teams and in the latter stages of the tournament. Let me see how long can Dhoni keep him out.
used2bcool
Club Captain
I don't think Nehra has completely recovered from his injury yet. That said, we should still rest Zaheer because he's fragile and without him, our attack is decidedly second-rate (it's almost second-rate even with him, but at least there is some room for doubt). Give Sreesanth another go if Nehra isn't fit, maybe he'll make for entertaining viewing when the Dutch smack him all over the park for the tune of something like 4-0-46-0.
I don't think so. Play the full squad, we were almost humbled by Ireland the other day.
Resting Harbhajan- probably you used the wrong word- Drop him !
Get in Ashwin ,who can at least pick up a few wickets.
A new comer like Imran Tahir comes and plays his first match in India and gets instant success- Harbhajan must have played around 200+ games and still looks toothless out here.
I'd also like to see Chawla out of the team and Nehra needs to be drafted in.
used2bcool
Club Captain
Yeah, I just don't get Harbhajan. He used to rip the ball both ways and then just seemed to have lost his touch/form/whatever. But what's sad is that he's forgotten his basics - he just won't flight the damned ball! Yuvraj was giving it more air the other day against Ireland!
Harbhajan just seems to have gotten caught up in the whole "spinners play a restrictive role" theory so much that he's not even looking to attack the batsmen. And if he and the team management are seriously satisfied with figures like 9-0-29-0 against Ireland, then they're missing something.
Our attack isn't the best attack in the world, especially when it comes to taking wickets. We need wicket-takers, and like Icyman said, you'd think that Harbhajan would've figured out how to take wickets on Indian tracks after playing 200-odd ODIs on them! Even teams like England and South Africa, who have not traditionally banked on spinners are using spinners are genuine attacking threats, so what gives? Why don't we use our spinners? It doesn't make sense to me.
Harbhajan just seems to have gotten caught up in the whole "spinners play a restrictive role" theory so much that he's not even looking to attack the batsmen. And if he and the team management are seriously satisfied with figures like 9-0-29-0 against Ireland, then they're missing something.
Our attack isn't the best attack in the world, especially when it comes to taking wickets. We need wicket-takers, and like Icyman said, you'd think that Harbhajan would've figured out how to take wickets on Indian tracks after playing 200-odd ODIs on them! Even teams like England and South Africa, who have not traditionally banked on spinners are using spinners are genuine attacking threats, so what gives? Why don't we use our spinners? It doesn't make sense to me.
Aditya
ICC Board Member
I rate Ireland higher than Netherlands. Netherlands did made 296 against England but their bowlers were not able to defend the target and I don't think that they are a good enough side to beat a side like India. Drop or rest Harbhajan whatever he should not play in the next match is what I'd like to see, give Ashwin a chance. Chawla's performance was good in the practice matches but he certainly hasn't performed in the matches that he is required to perform. So, we need to give Ashwin a chance and see how Ashwin is bowling. As far as Tahir is concern, he's a new bowler in the SA side and the batsmen often find it hard to play a new spinners and that too a leg spinner, so it's obvious that he will bowl well in his first few matches. Same happened with Mendis, he started off his career exceptionally well, as the batsmen were finding him hard to play but now the batsmen find it easier to play him and he isn't as threatening as he was when he started his career.
Tbh, I thought Chawla and Bhajji should have made an impact against the Irish on a different kind of wicket. As used2bcool has put it, Harbhajan seems to have been distracted by his recent batting success and needs a reality bite. He is in the squad to pick up wickets and not to simply restrict the opposition.
Going back to 1996, Kumble had, by this time in the tournament been the leading wicket taker and was also quite economical. Harbhajan is no where.
Going back to 1996, Kumble had, by this time in the tournament been the leading wicket taker and was also quite economical. Harbhajan is no where.
Its ok even if we lose to Netherlands. We can take it as a wake up call. With a second string team, we beat New Zealand at home 5-0 under Gambhir's captaincy. I dont see why we cant beat Netherlands without Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer. Give those guys rest! "Resting" is the word for Harbhajan. Dhoni wont drop Harbhajan at all. If the spinner at the other end is attacking, Harbhajan's economical bowling will work. Thats why we need Ashwin out there in the other end. Chawla reverts back to restrictive bowling if he is hit, and the chances of him bouncing back after being hit is very minimal. Ashwin hits back quickly if he is hit because he has patience and experience of succeeding in T20's which is a more cruel game.
----------
In those times, Indian wickets helped the spinners far better than today. Today all we see is slow spin and batsmen have enough time to adjust due to the slowness of the turn.
mohit_dude10
County Cricketer
On the same pitch Yuvraj gets 5-for and Harbhajan not even a single wicket? How can the pitch be blamed for it.
AbhishekS
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2008
- Location
- Mumbai, India
- Online Cricket Games Owned
- Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
Harbhajan being rested for Ashwin is fine, but Sachin shouldn't be rested at all. This is probably his last WC and he is in a race to complete 100 centuries and 50 ODI centuries, certainly won't be resting against the minnows.
Sachin should be rested only if he is unfit. If he is hale & hearty there is no reason for us not to play him. Remember he is coming to ODI cricket from a very long break & this break was provided so that he could perform in the WC.
Thats all you care about ??? 100 hundreds ? Being a fan and all is fine, but this is quite ridiculous-seems like you are one of those who accord him the demi-God status and stop watching a match if he gets out.
I seriously doubt whether Tendulkar himself is counting his hundreds.
Check out the other spinners- Tahir and Afridi. Agreed that Afridi bowls faster, but still he manages to pick up wickets. Harbhajan, I believe has gone wicket-less in the World Cup so far, which is pathetic for our leading off-spinner.
Exactly my point ! Well said...
Cricketman
ICC Chairman
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2005
- Location
- USA
Just watching Times Now and Ravi Shastri made a great point. When a guy like Piyush is getting wrecked at the other end, Harbhajan was just doing his job and plugging one side up. If the other spinner was bowling well, Harbhajan could have the liberty to attack.
I think Dhoni should bowl Harbhajan and Zaheer in tandem more... I rarely see them bowling together. I reckon it could be a good partnership.
I think Dhoni should bowl Harbhajan and Zaheer in tandem more... I rarely see them bowling together. I reckon it could be a good partnership.
Maybe Dhoni can thrust Harbhajan with the responsibility of opening the bowling (or give him the ball after 4-5 overs). The batsmen will have gotten their eye in by 4-5 overs and will think of pressing the accelerator when they will encounter Bhajji and that will put them in a huge disadvantage of having to tackle one of the most economical bowlers in ODI's and they could end up giving wickets.
shravi
National Board President
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
- Profile Flag
- India
Sai, we are sure to get into the QFs but that's not the point. We want to be the top of our group so we face New Zealand or whoever is in fourth place in the group. You have to look at the bigger picture. The other group got it easy with Kenya and Canada but we don't have that luxury. The minnows are not all that easy to beat so there's no need to take unnecessary risks.
