India

[0601731]

To the best of my knowledge, TEN has never won the rights to telecast cricket matches played in India and will never do so-cause ZEE has a 50% stake in it.

I am also happy that ESS will be doing the ICC events till 2015 as they tend to generally have a good team with good inputs. I am just hoping that Sanjay Manjrekar does not turn up to commentate at the World Cup with his cheap-a** hypo-critical comments.

Just read Ten Cricket has been served a show cause notice by the I&B ministry,Hope they are fined heavily.

 

[Params7]

On current form, he needs to be dropped. If he ain't dropped, it will be aclear sign of CSK domination once again. Raina or someone else will have to make way for Yusuf Pathan. If you have to drop any player from the playing XI now, it would be Raina.

On current form, you mean just the SA tour right? Raina is a monster on SC pitches and that's what matters for this tournament. Don't care if we drop him after WC so he could train to be a more global cricketer, but right now Raina needs to be there.

 

[mohit_dude10]

but right now Raina needs to be there.

So who do you suggest should go out then? Kohli and Yusuf are doing really good to be dropped and Yuvraj is much better than Raina in SC he is also a better bowler than Raina.

 

[icyman]

Most of you seem to be debating Raina with regards to his past performance. If you really have a look at his form for the last few series, it has not been great. He did not do that well in South Africa. Add to that, his outing versus NZL was pretty shoddy.

He is a vital cog, but one needs to slot him in. Show me a place in the team where you can slot him in. On present form, I'd say Yuvraj and Yusuf are certainties in the side. With Virat holding a batting position, it makes sense to drop Suresh Raina.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Sachin
Sehwag
Gambhir
Yuvi/Raina
Kohli
MSD
Yusuf
Bhajji
Zak
Nehra
Munaf


I think Raina will miss out, Yuvi's bowling has been going well recently, and it'll be difficult to drop Yusuf with his current form.

Pace attack...bit of a worry with Nehra blowing hot and cold and Zak not looking fully fit. Wouldn't mind PK over Nehra. Shortens the tail too.

 

[King Cricket]

I guess the final framework of the team will emerge only after a few matches into the World Cup. With Raina looking like he has hit a rough patch, India should go with Yuvraj for the first few games in the group stage. Raina can come in if he underperforms.

There's also a possibility of Yusuf Pathan not translating his potential to performance. His form fluctuates too often and regardless of the praises being showered on him, I still doubt his capabilities in crunch situations. Take out his Africa tour, and I don't think he has many match winning innings under his belt to brag about. Yes, given his mesmerizing knocks in South Africa, Pathan's an automatic choice for the first few games, but with players like Raina breathing down his neck, he'll have to come good to hold on to his position.

 

[SaiSrini]

After two innings, Yusuf is back to being over rated. He still has not sorted out his short ball problems. He was in that zone where time was good for him, and he cashed in. I am still very pessimistic when it comes to him. I have more faith in Raina and Yuvraj than Yusuf.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Subcontinent. Flat, Slow pitches.

It's perfect for Yusuf. He's a FTB who can't play the short or moving ball (despite showing that he can in his recent cameos vs. RSA and NZ), then fine. He won't have that problem in the Subcontinent. Especially since Spin will be the main mode of attack for most if not all the sides, and Yusuf eats spinners for breakfast.

He's a big hitting game changer in good form. He has a safe pair of hands too, good spinner and plays well under pressure. He has to feature in the side.

 

[relentless_rock]

After two innings, Yusuf is back to being over rated. He still has not sorted out his short ball problems. He was in that zone where time was good for him, and he cashed in. I am still very pessimistic when it comes to him. I have more faith in Raina and Yuvraj than Yusuf.

If your selection is based on overall batting talent, yes no one would question Yuvi or Raina's superiority over Yusuf. But here, the demand is for a very specific skill, hard hitting, and Yusuf pips ALL in that department.

People are expecting big from Yuvraj, which I am a bit uncertain if he could deliver it in this cup. But his recent bowling performace has definetely done him a world of good. If his bowling form dips, he is an immediate replacement and would be warming the benches.

 

[icyman]

If Yuvraj does not perform in this World Cup, he should be kicked out of the team. He has not done anything concrete in the last two WC's he played. Magically enough, he tends to feature in almost all of our teams. Expectations, therefore from Yuvi are bound to be high.

 

[akshay12]

dhoni should be dropped just joking

 

[Pranav]

India play two warm up games. One against Australia and the other one against New Zealand.

I am not sure about how they should go about these two games. Should they test out players like Ashwin or Chawla for that matter? Or, should they play with the XI that is most likely to play in the main games (thus allowing the key players to gain some crucial match practice)?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I want SRT to play few games on SC pitches come on!!

 

[SaiSrini]

India play two warm up games. One against Australia and the other one against New Zealand.

I am not sure about how they should go about these two games. Should they test out players like Ashwin or Chawla for that matter? Or, should they play with the XI that is most likely to play in the main games (thus allowing the key players to gain some crucial match practice)?

Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir have to play both warm up games to get their flow back. Dhoni, Yuvraj and Raina also have to play considering that they were totally out of touch in the SA series with their form. Yusuf should play because he is considered to be our trump card and he should also get his familiarity back with Indian conditions. So that leaves Kohli out which is not a worry because Kohli can come in at anytime and start flowing. If Praveen is fit, he should play both games. If he is not fit for the warmups, Sreesanth should be called in immediately as replacement because we cant wait on Praveen's fitness till the main game starts.

Ideally I would play our best XI in the warmup games. Its crucial that all of them get the best workout.

 

[Cricketman]

I think you can field like 14 players during warmups. Some of the batters don't field and bowlers don't bat.