South Africa's tour of India - October/December 2015

[Targaryen]

^OR bring back Yuvi or Pathan in batting unit and Varun Aaron or Vinay Kumar in bowling unit. How can we forget Vinay Kumar who has been a leading wicket taker of the Ranji Tournament for past 2-3 years.

 

[Aravind.]

South Africa India choked under pressure...

 

[AliB]

Rohit's wicket was the turning point IMO he is the only man who keeps on scoring at a good rate.

 

[themusketeer]

I don't see Vinay kumar making into the team. Always tries to generate more pace which leads into bad line and length and plus his high jump.

One must learn from this indian lineup how to lose a game from Nowhere.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

I think India made a mistake sending both Kohli and Dhoni in before Rahane.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

India have to seriously look at the Jadeja option again ... Jadeja at 7 was an invaluable tool for India winning ODIs for so long. Or Better still try someone new. Ashwin is a big loss not just with the ball but with the bat too. He is good for 10-15 runs in a chase.

Some sense here. India's main issue is that our teams are picked on media driven pressure and the IPL. If you look around the world, Jadeja has been the best spin bowling all rounder in the past 3-4 years who is still allowed to bowl. Axar Patel has done alright, but he's someone who bowls 'darts.' Jadeja has a natural variation and he's just a cricketer who makes stuff happen. His batting numbers will never be great, because he has to come and go and not everyone can be Dhoni/Ab de Villiers.

Look at Harbhajan Singh? He had a good IPL and he's there, but Rasool who's done well isn't in the picture. I'm happy for Amit Mishra because he never deserved to be dropped.

Now, on to the issue which I will get pasted for.

Instance 1: Sachin Tendulkar drops to No.4 to allow India to play 7 batsmen. He also ensures the Sehwag/Ganguly partnership at the top, not because he can't open but because they're not as effective elsewhere.

Instance 2: Rahul Dravid become a WK for India in ODI's.

Instance 3: Rohit Sharma is promoted to open the batting in limited overs to accommodate him in the side. It works wonders.

Now, I've stated these instances because all these were 'unnatural' moves, but they were done for the betterment of Indian cricket. I'm a very strong believer that Rahane has done enough adjustments and he's far too good a player not to feature in limited overs. However, he has to bat in the top 3 and Kohli is basically NO.3. He's too big a player to not warrant his own place of preference. Also, he's not at the age where he can be totally adaptable. Like Tendulkar, he can dominate but he's not your typical slogger.

In my opinion, time has come for Rohit Sharma to bat where India needs and that's at 4. My Indian ODI team would be as follows : (In batting order)

Openers-

Ajinkya Rahane
Shikhar Dhawan

Manan Vohra (Reserve opener)

No.3

Virat Kohli, period.

No.4

Rohit Sharma

No.5

MS Dhoni

I would be flexible with 4 & 5 depending upon the situation.

No.6

Suresh Raina

Reserve batsmen-

Mandeep Singh
Unmukht Chand

No.7

Ravindra Jadeja

Rishi Dhawan & Axar Patel (Reserves)

No.8

Ravichandran Ashwin, period.

No.9

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in all matches apart from those where it's dead as a dodo. I'd opt for Mohit Sharma in those.

No.10

Amit Mishra in the sub continent, Umesh Yadav abroad.

No.11

Mohammad Shami

As expected, apart from 2-3 people, everyone here was calling for Jadeja's head apart from a couple here. The BCCI needs to appoint selectors with some stones in my opinion. I completely understand Jadeja's omission from tests, but not limited overs. Now, if they go back to him without him doing something significant in domestic cricket, then you're basically saying- 'We don't have anyone better no matter how bad you are and you're not even a Binny.'

 

[PokerAce]

I like the idea of Rohit lower down the order with Dhawan and Rahane opening. Rohit could even bat at 5, he has the game to come in and start playing his shots. Thats all he does really. Dhoni could then be 4.

Its a good idea.

 

[PokerAce]

Also I think its time to start looking at names from beyond the core group that has been playing since Tendulkar Retirement. I think the group of 17-18 players has remain unchanged. There needs to be some movement here.

I cannot understand why Rishi Dhawan is not even in the plans. No one expects him to perform miracles, and there is always the chance that he flops, but those issues remain with everyone.

However when I see 32 yr old Binny in the mix ahead of Rishi Dhawan who has better nos with both Bat and Ball, and is clearly a long run option, I cannot understand what the deal is.

 

[namin96]

I think India made a mistake sending both Kohli and Dhoni in before Rahane.

No they didn't. Dhoni's thinking was right there. It's just that we didn't get over the line this time. Also, I think Kohli and Dhoni took it way too easy during the middle overs and they left too much to do in the last 10 overs especially when it was really hard to get bat on ball. Kohli bats at number 3 and there should be no further discussion on that or changes regarding his batting position. He was also trying to find form and he did pretty well but it wasn't really a Kohli innings.

 

[namin96]

I like the idea of Rohit lower down the order with Dhawan and Rahane opening. Rohit could even bat at 5, he has the game to come in and start playing his shots. Thats all he does really. Dhoni could then be 4.

Its a good idea.

No rohit shouldn't be dropped further down the order. Dhawan needs to be demoted or he needs to sit out and let someone else come in the team. Rohit and Rahane opening would solve most problems, but another problem that arises would be who comes in for Dhawan. Also, I hear jadeja might come into the team based on his recent performances.

 

[namin96]

Some sense here. India's main issue is that our teams are picked on media driven pressure and the IPL. If you look around the world, Jadeja has been the best spin bowling all rounder in the past 3-4 years who is still allowed to bowl. Axar Patel has done alright, but he's someone who bowls 'darts.' Jadeja has a natural variation and he's just a cricketer who makes stuff happen. His batting numbers will never be great, because he has to come and go and not everyone can be Dhoni/Ab de Villiers.

Look at Harbhajan Singh? He had a good IPL and he's there, but Rasool who's done well isn't in the picture. I'm happy for Amit Mishra because he never deserved to be dropped.

Now, on to the issue which I will get pasted for.

Instance 1: Sachin Tendulkar drops to No.4 to allow India to play 7 batsmen. He also ensures the Sehwag/Ganguly partnership at the top, not because he can't open but because they're not as effective elsewhere.

Instance 2: Rahul Dravid become a WK for India in ODI's.

Instance 3: Rohit Sharma is promoted to open the batting in limited overs to accommodate him in the side. It works wonders.

Now, I've stated these instances because all these were 'unnatural' moves, but they were done for the betterment of Indian cricket. I'm a very strong believer that Rahane has done enough adjustments and he's far too good a player not to feature in limited overs. However, he has to bat in the top 3 and Kohli is basically NO.3. He's too big a player to not warrant his own place of preference. Also, he's not at the age where he can be totally adaptable. Like Tendulkar, he can dominate but he's not your typical slogger.

In my opinion, time has come for Rohit Sharma to bat where India needs and that's at 4. My Indian ODI team would be as follows : (In batting order)

Openers-

Ajinkya Rahane
Shikhar Dhawan

Manan Vohra (Reserve opener)

No.3

Virat Kohli, period.

No.4

Rohit Sharma

No.5

MS Dhoni

I would be flexible with 4 & 5 depending upon the situation.

No.6

Suresh Raina

Reserve batsmen-

Mandeep Singh
Unmukht Chand

No.7

Ravindra Jadeja

Rishi Dhawan & Axar Patel (Reserves)

No.8

Ravichandran Ashwin, period.

No.9

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in all matches apart from those where it's dead as a dodo. I'd opt for Mohit Sharma in those.

No.10

Amit Mishra in the sub continent, Umesh Yadav abroad.

No.11

Mohammad Shami

As expected, apart from 2-3 people, everyone here was calling for Jadeja's head apart from a couple here. The BCCI needs to appoint selectors with some stones in my opinion. I completely understand Jadeja's omission from tests, but not limited overs. Now, if they go back to him without him doing something significant in domestic cricket, then you're basically saying- 'We don't have anyone better no matter how bad you are and you're not even a Binny.'

I don't think we should demote Rohit. Rohit opening is really good. Dhawan's form is also creating the main issues for the team. Kohli should always come in at 3 after today, if Dhoni even thinks about changing the batting positions of Kohli and Rahane in the next game then I just don't see how we're going to win another game. Rahane came in at 4 in the world cup so I don't understand why he can't come in at 4 currently.

 

[grkrama]

I would just like Murali vijay to be tried in the finisher role and see how it goes. Rishi dhawan ahead of axar or binny.


Also only place i can see rahanae fitting well is as an opener. rohit or shawn will ace to move down preferably rohit as it will give india proper platform up top and down the order if dhoni is going @4.

Raina needs to find some form here too.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I don't think we should demote Rohit. Rohit opening is really good. Dhawan's form is also creating the main issues for the team. Kohli should always come in at 3 after today, if Dhoni even thinks about changing the batting positions of Kohli and Rahane in the next game then I just don't see how we're going to win another game. Rahane came in at 4 in the world cup so I don't understand why he can't come in at 4 currently.

It's not a question of demoting Rohit, it's a promotion in many ways. Ten years from now, when these guys hang up their boots, you remember a lot of special things in your career but the most special moments are those where you accept something for the sake of the team or for one of your team mates. Rohit Sharma is well aware that in the past couple of years, he's been our most prolific scorer in the shorter versions. I also think, he's not the sort of chap who will be too bothered about batting in the middle order. He's done it for Mumbai Indians because the team needed it and he's done it well.

Let's just roll back time a little and remember that RS started opening the batting because MSD wanted him in the side and that was the only place that had a vacancy. I believe, it was the champion's trophy. At the time, the entire band of pundits and armchair experts like us were bemused and couldn't understand it. Great sportsmen are those that change with time and adapt to the needs of a team. India have clearly been on the slide for a year and a half or so as a ODI team. Wasn't Rohit Sharma actually slated as a middle order batsman? The team showed a lot of faith in him by promoting him to open and now it's his turn to return the favour. Why do we need him so badly at 4? Because, he's our best stroke player by far. He has the game to defend, lay a platform and then launch OR launch right away. He also pushes MSD @ 5, Raina @ 6 and with Jadeja @ 7 you have one of the strongest and deepest line ups. Most importantly, Rahane goes to the top of the order which is where he belongs. Like you mentioned, Virat has to bat @ 3.

On Shikhar Dhawan? Well, I'm one of his biggest critics and every time I convince people he's no good, an ICC tournament comes about and he scores a couple of hundreds. So, I've found myself looking sheepish a few times already with him.

I think, PokerAce made a very good point earlier. We have had a group of 18-20 people after the retirement of Tendulkar and only these guys have been getting a look in. We need to inject some fresh faces and some young blood. People with new ideas. I feel Mandeep Singh can be tried out as a finisher. Manan Vohra as an opener if Dhawan or Rahane fail. Rishi Dhawan?

The first thing that should happen is Binny's father needs to axed from the selection panel. He needs to be retired. Rayudu can play the IPL. These are some excellent examples of atrocious biased selection.

 

[greymatter776]

And again the selectors aren't a bit concerned about team India as many of the PC members are.The only change made is that S Aravind comes in for Umesh Yadav.

ODI squad for last two matches: MS Dhoni (capt), Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, S Aravind, Gurkeerat Singh, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh

Binny has the best bowling figures for an Indian in ODI ( really? ) and Rohit has the highest individual score in ODI.We are playing at home too,still we can't win it.

Jadeja returns for test against SA replacing Harbhajan .No other changes in the test squad that toured Sri Lanka.

Squad for first two Tests: Virat Kohli (capt), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma

Board President's XI: Cheteshwar Pujara (capt), KL Rahul, Unmukt Chand, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Naman Ojha, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Sheldon Jackson, Karn Sharma, Nathu Singh

Even Nathu Singh is in but not Rishi Dhawan.Selectors doing a great job

 

[Aravind.]

I know how that feels bro! @ Rishi Dhawan