Sri Lanka tour of India - November/December 2017

[asprin]

Indian batting especially actually as the new ball might do a bit with the overcast conditions as well although have no idea about potent this SL pace bowlers are.

Yes, that's what I was inferring to. Might get interesting given how overconfident India seems to be.

 

[aditya123]

I cannot, for the love of god, figure out why Vijay isn't in the team. He is technically better than both the openers and IS suited for Test cricket far more than the other two. Why, oh why?

And among the lot, has proven himself in overseas conditions as well. I would say that Vijay, along with Rahane and to an extent Kohli were the only positive to come out of the previous set of overseas tours. His 96 at Durban along with another superb 90-odd and a 50-odd at Lords (on a green mamba) as well as a big hundred at the GABBA (along with other superb knocks at Adelaide and Sydney) are what players should be judged on. Dhawan scored a few easy runs in SL and gets back into the side on the basis of ODI scores. Even in ODIs he struggled against NZ largely. Vijay and Rahul should`ve been given the confidence that they would start in SA barring any injuries. This is the beginning of something that is going to hurt us big in the foreign tours. Kohli himself in challenging conditions is`nt the most reliable test batsman. It was the Vijay-Pujara combo that gave us a huge advantage by playing out the new ball on numerous occasions even in home conditions. This Indian side has the ingredients to win overseas, but if this kind of arrogance persists, we are doomed for failure. Dhawan is a proven failure in test cricket against good pace bowling. He is no Sehwag! We all know how much he struggled against Philander, Steyn and Rabada even at home.

As I type, Rahul goes. Its good that we are playing on this green track. Even if we lose this test, it will do us good in the long run.

 

[asprin]

First ball, first wicket!! Something to really look forward to.

Dhawan is a proven failure in test cricket against good pace bowling.

Agree. He will be thoroughly exposed against the likes of Steyn and Rabada.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

And among the lot, has proven himself in overseas conditions as well. I would say that Vijay, along with Rahane and to an extent Kohli were the only positive to come out of the previous set of overseas tours. His 96 at Durban along with another superb 90-odd and a 50-odd at Lords (on a green mamba) as well as a big hundred at the GABBA (along with other superb knocks at Adelaide and Sydney) are what players should be judged on. Dhawan scored a few easy runs in SL and gets back into the side on the basis of ODI scores. Even in ODIs he struggled against NZ largely. Vijay and Rahul should`ve been given the confidence that they would start in SA barring any injuries. This is the beginning of something that is going to hurt us big in the foreign tours. Kohli himself in challenging conditions is`nt the most reliable test batsman. It was the Vijay-Pujara combo that gave us a huge advantage by playing out the new ball on numerous occasions even in home conditions. This Indian side has the ingredients to win overseas, but if this kind of arrogance persists, we are doomed for failure. Dhawan is a proven failure in test cricket against good pace bowling. He is no Sehwag! We all know how much he struggled against Philander, Steyn and Rabada even at home.

As I type, Rahul goes. Its good that we are playing on this green track. Even if we lose this test, it will do us good in the long run.

Vijay is NOT Kohli's friend. That's the first qualification for being picked.

Not much Rahul could have done about that dismissal.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Gavaskar blaming Rahul's trigger movement for his dismissal!

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Is something wrong with the speed guns ? Lakmal is shown to be bowling at 82 kph / 51 mph.

 

[zwarrior]

Agree with everyone. Vijay is our first choice opener and he will be the second name on my list after Pujara in test matches. I thought if they are selecting Dhawan, it would be Rahul who would sit out, but dropping Vijay is a very bad sign.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Agree with everyone. Vijay is our first choice opener and he will be the second name on my list after Pujara in test matches. I thought if they are selecting Dhawan, it would be Rahul who would sit out, but dropping Vijay is a very bad sign.

I would pick Vijay over Pujara. His overseas record is tremendous. On the subject of Rahul and Dhawan? It's an absolute no contest as well. Rahul had an amazing run in our home season and got runs in difficult situations. He's also done reasonably well overseas. It's an absolute JOKE to pick Dhawan. He might get a hundred here, but he doesn't deserve to be there.

Lanka bowlers are bowling at 78/79 clicks in the third and fourth over of a test. Quite pathetic if you ask me and barring that ball to Rahul, the other 4.4 overs have been poor.

 

[zwarrior]

On the subject of Rahul and Dhawan? It's an absolute no contest as well

What I meant was, knowing Kohli would pick Dhawan no matter what, I was hoping Rahul would be dropped instead of Vijay. I didn't mean that Rahul should be dropped for Dhawan.

 

[aditya123]

Agree with everyone. Vijay is our first choice opener and he will be the second name on my list after Pujara in test matches. I thought if they are selecting Dhawan, it would be Rahul who would sit out, but dropping Vijay is a very bad sign.

I bet its the stoned brain of Shastri making these moves and will call it an aggressive move during one of his chest-thumping interviews after we eventually beat a below-par SL side.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

What a shot from Dhawan! The conditions warranted that shot. What's the excuse this time? He's travelled the world and been in this situation before and with all due respect, this isn't a great attack. The SA bowlers will be bowling the same stuff, more accurate and at 20 kmph quicker.

 

[aditya123]

What a shot from Dhawan! The conditions warranted that shot. What's the excuse this time? He's travelled the world and been in this situation before and with all due respect, this isn't a great attack. The SA bowlers will be bowling the same stuff, more accurate and at 20 kmph quicker.

The core of this batting side was Vijay, Pujara, Kohli and Rahane. To even entertain the thought of dropping Vijay for Dhawan is laughable at this point. Vijay is so far ahead as a test opener in challenging conditions, probably one the best all-wicket openers currently in the world. I remember this Shastri-Kohli combo dropping Pujara in favor of Rohit Sharma in the pre-Kumble era.

 

[zwarrior]

I bet its the stoned brain of Shastri making these moves and will call it an aggressive move during one of his chest-thumping interviews after we eventually beat a below-par SL side.

Final call on the team has to be from captain. He is the one who is going out on the field with his team and play. According to me, Kohli takes the equal blame on this.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Somehow I wish we loose this game. I am so sick of this management. Deserving players on bench and good friends in the team. People openly criticized Dhoni but what about Kohli now? I dont see Kohli bashers anywhere

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I wanted to ask everyone something-

Not very long ago, a young man scored a triple hundred and was replaced by Rahane on the basis that he had done a lot more historically and deserved to slot right back in. Isn't that the same situation with Dhawan and Vijay?

What's changed? The coach certainly has.

Also, how does Rohit Sharma make the squad before Karun Nair?