Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Rahul has waited for his Test chance to return back to him for India and, the early signs are that he has leapt on it. There are many checks and balances on his most recent series. It was against West Indies who have been hugely underwhelming and who find themselves hugely lacking in the bowling department. Despite this you would feel that Rahul has done enough to justify another crack of the whip.

That being said India have something of an embarrassment of riches at the top of the order and the return of Murali Vijay doesn't make things any easier. I would suspect that Vijay would return into the Test set up straight away. He is the only player who has played well in all countries - even the grandmaster Virat Kohli has struggled on swinging pitches where Vijay has thrived.

This then leaves India's selectors with the following quandary: Do we drop Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan or Cheteshwar Pujara?

Pujara is a big talent who, due to such selection riches that we are discussing here, has never had a particularly extended run in an Indian Test team. I would be inclined to give Pujara the chance he deserves and warrants. On the flip side of that particular coin you have to think that Dhawan has had the chances that Pujara had not had - and has spurned them. All the way back in March I questioned the form of Dhawan. After his poor showing in the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup I pointed to the fact that his style of play works very well in combination with Rohit Sharma. This would make him an automatic selection for shorter forms of the game but not so much for longer forms. If any of these batsmen drop out for Vijay, I would warrant that it would have to be Dhawan.

All of this has been further confused by the 162* of Abhinav Mukund in the Duleep Trophy. I think Mukund is a better batsmen to Dhawan as well so could be another nearly man to buzz round the team.

I will now stand by and wait for the bhaveshgor analysis

Well for one Shikar dhawan would be dropped, although weirdly enough like you say because of the riches in the top order batsman tend to score big runs or you are out of the side for a few games.
Dhawan certainly been scoring more consistently since Kl Rahul made his debut since he needs 60-70s consistently to keep Kl Rahul out of the side.
Also not sure you can say pujara not had a good run the guy only missed 4-5 test matches in the last 40 or so test for india.
Dhawan played 22 test, Pujara 35 Test.


Also was a fan of Abhinav mukund since he made his debut in 2011 but a 2011 tour to england did destroy his confidence and he struggled for a few years.

India biggest issue would be lower order bats and bowlers that can bat.
Saha at 7 is too high, Ashwin really being the only first pick bowler that could bat is a worry especially with Jadeja having question marks in both field at the moment, not regarded as a specialist bowler or batsman now.
Mishra is ok batsman but 8 is one place high especially with 3 number 11s.
only Bhuvi could bat compared to the other pace men.
Bowling pace all rounder is a worry since most contenders are crap bowler AKA Dhawan, Binny etc
really need a bowler getting in to bowl but averaging 20-25 with the bat.

This would be my top 7 for India

Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Saha

What do we make of Sudip Chatterjee? Pretty raw but the guy has a solid technique

yeah decent player, TBH it really isn't that hard to find a batsman with a solid technique in india, india generally produce loads of good batsman. Very rarely would india ever struggle to find a batsman.
didn't really take that long to replace the all time great batting line up and if anything while the fab 6 were batting people really had kohli, rahane, pujara and rohit replacing them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9NU60gB7A
highlight of his knock, looks a very good player and picks length very early which is usually a key feature in good batsman.
if he has a good duleep trophy might get considered for A tours for india.

Away from batting, Kuldeep Yadav has really impressed me in the Duleep. Might make a play for the senior team?

While he was young in 2011, Mukund sticks in the memory as a player with a particularly bad technique. Most notably his footwork was non existant, and he provided England with multiple ways to get him out without really having to bowl well or to a plan. He was clearly weak to the inswinging ball, and also got out a couple of times to very full balls that other openers would simply lean into and knock pass the bowler for four - his balance and footwork meant those half volleys went aerial into the offside, and he provided catching practice for the slippers and gully.

Pujara is clearly the superior player out of those mentioned. Ok, he isnt going to be a batting legend, but his sheer desire to occupy the crease will see him through enough games to play in a line up that crumbles outside Asia a lot. And in the next few years a bit of extra time might make him able to front up to good swing bowling a lot better. For me Pujara isnt that far off Kohli, they both do well and fail in similar circumstances.

It leaves you with a shootout between Dhawan and Rahul. I dont think either at the moment make a compelling case, both are flat track bullies as far as I have seen, and both hardly look like decent openers against a good new ball attack.

And i am suprised to see Rohit mentioned here. While Shanky was on it straight away, I have to admit that he just isnt comfortable enough in areas of his defensive technique to play in test cricket. His generations Raina or Yuvraj

sussexpob wrote:
It leaves you with a shootout between Dhawan and Rahul. I dont think either at the moment make a compelling case, both are flat track bullies as far as I have seen, and both hardly look like decent openers against a good new ball attack.

imo Rahul will open with Murali in next test unless any of them is unfit.

Read someone saying that India need to show more patience with Rahane. I would say his problem is more inconsistency than anything.

The form of Ashwin and Jadeja with the bat gives India the luxury of picking two bowlers on just their bowling ability alone. Good news for Hardik Pandya and Manish Pandey.

365notout wrote:The form of Ashwin and Jadeja with the bat gives India the luxury of picking two bowlers on just their bowling ability alone. Good news for Hardik Pandya and Manish Pandey.

not sure I follow that

365notout wrote:Read someone saying that India need to show more patience with Rahane. I would say his problem is more inconsistency than anything.

If your answer to the following questions is, "I apologise I meant to say Rohit Sharma"..... then thats fine.... but Rahane??

Sorry, I dont get that comment at all. Rahane is averaging 75 this year, and is pushing his career average to 50. He has a great away record, including the quicker and bouncier pitches of SA and AUS that other Indians have found to be their personal kryponite, and generally looks like he has both the technique and mental application to thrive in virtually all conditions. He has also never had a calendar year where he averaged under 40.

Id say criticising Rahane in the context of the team he plays in.... well, Ill be honest, I think its verging on madness. He'd be the first name in the batting line up Id write down when selecting the team, and I think he is very consistent.

Scored a great hundred on a greentop at Lord's as well, though faded in that series after a good start.

Kohli seems to have lost his glitter recently, I wonder if the captaincy is becoming a burden? Looking up his record his average has increased from 44 up to 51 during his captaincy but of his 1174 run total 706 of them have come from only 5 of his 23 innings. in other 18 innings he has an aerage of about 26. Three of his five centuries were scored in his first two games as captain in Oz, so his record as captain is not great.

hmm possibly...but it might just be a lean trot? Everyone is entitled to them thorughout their career